KARACHI, Nov 22: Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati) Chairman Shaikh Fazl-e-Jalil has urged the government to reduce the electricity charges keeping in view of substantial drop in world crude oil prices.

He said that increase in power tariff by the KESC was totally unjustified. “The generation of power supply to Karachi is thermal, as the oil prices in international market has fallen from $147 to $48 a barrel, therefore, the electricity prices should have been relatively reduced,” he asserted.

In a statement, he said Minister for Power and Water Raja Pervez Ashraf in a recent meeting with the FPCCI and representatives of other chambers had indicated maximum rise of up to 10 per cent in the power tariff for industrial consumers, whereas the notification issued subsequently showed an increase of 20 per cent.

He said the industries had been hard hit by inflation, high costs of input, falling rupee and also international recession causing closure of many industries. Under these circumstances, the increase in power tariff would further aggravate the economic situation.

Jalil said the governments of India and Bangladesh had reduced the prices of electricity and gas.