HYDERABAD, April 19 An office-bearer of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry claimed on Monday that 780 megawatts from the city's total power supply was being diverted to Karachi at the expense of local industry which suffered 12 hours of loadshedding daily.

Altaf Memon, chairman of the chamber's committee on Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco), said that while the city faced serious power crisis the Karachis industries kept moving. They had to bear with only three hours of loadshedding -- apparently at the cost of Hyderabad, he said.

He warned that if power supply did not improve in a week, local traders and businessmen would react in the same way as their brethren in Lahore and Faisalabad.

He said at a press conference at the chamber office that the committee members had met Hesco chief and he had supported the chamber's stance. He promised he would talk to higher authorities on this issue, said Mr Memon.

He said that while Karachis industrial area was being provided normal power supply, Hyderabads industry had been ruined by persistent energy crisis although technically there was no shortfall of power supply in the city.

He said “We are experiencing 12 hours of power outage on an average while Karachi is having only three hours of loadshedding”.

He said that Hesco chief executive officer had been briefed about traders' sentiments and he had promised to discuss their problem with the authorities concerned.

Earlier, HCCI president Azizuddin Arain described the Expo 2010 as a grand success at which local products from Matiari, Mithi, Umerkot and Hala were displayed for marketing. Exporters of agricultural produce were keen to export these goods, he said.

He said that diplomats of Germany, United Kingdom, Sri Lanka and Turkey also visited the exhibition and number of visitors stood at about 300,000.

He said that the Asian Development Bank had reportedly committed Rs150 million for the establishment of Engineering Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Centre in Hyderabad and the ministry of industries had been requested to provide land for the project.

He said that 70 per cent work on the Glass Product Design and Manufacturing Centre had been completed. Hyderabad is ideal for promotion of trade activities because of its peaceful atmosphere, he said, adding a mango exhibition would be held at the Expo Centre in May.