LAHORE, Aug 15: The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (Punjab chapter) said on Friday the current power crisis could be overcome with the support of the sugar industry.

An association’s spokesman said the high electricity tariff was not only hurting industry, but was also adding to the miseries of the common man.

“The power rates can be reduced by introducing a joint venture between the sugar industry and Wapda while the sugar industry and the federal government can also work together to keep the power rates at the minimum,” he said.

The spokesman said the government should not allow thermal power generation because of high oil prices which was not only adding to the external debt but also badly hitting the country’s economy and the common consumers.

He termed baseless the press reports stating that the PSMA was asking for 11 cents per unit because the association would never demand such a high tariff which could be detrimental to the interests of common man.

He said the federal government should call a meeting of the PSMA and invite Punjab, Sindh and the NWFP chapters of the association to form a joint strategy in this regard.