LAHORE: The Lahore Electric Supply Company, within 24 hours of the finance minister commitment of zero-load shedding for industrial units during his budget speech, has sent a notice to the industry for power supply suspension of around 10 hours during Ramazan.
Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association chairman Adil Butt has shown concern over the government’s move to observe almost 10-hour load shedding in industrial units during Ramzan despite finance minister promise of 24-hour power supply to the industry. Adil Butt said that notice served to the industry by LESCO, one-day after the budget speech, has warned the industrial units to close their operations from 6-30pm to 4am and in case of violations, the power supply would be disconnected for the whole month of Ramazan.
Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association chairman Adil Butt said Pakistan’s exports had continued to fall for a long time, and the government proposed load shedding plan for Ramazan in industry would cause further decline in Pakistan’s exports as the exporters would not be able to meet the export deadlines on time.
Terming it as another setback for the economy, PHMA chairman said that without power supply, production activities would come to a halt in industries, thus taking a toll on the national economy.
He said that due to insufficient power supply, industry was already operating far below its actual capacity, and long hours of load shedding during Ramazan would further dent its manufacturing activities.