KARACHI: The leadership of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) and the industrial town associations here on Saturday urged the federal government to order the K-Electric to immediately stop and defer the Industrial Support Package Adjustment (ISPA), which is being charged retrospectively at a very odd situation as all the industries remained completely shut due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, and it is impossible to pay such exorbitant electricity bills carrying the ISPA.
Addressing a press conference along with presidents and chairmen of all the seven industrial town zones in Karachi, the Chairman of Businessmen Group (BMG), who is also a former president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Siraj Kassam Teli said that the Karachi chamber and all the seven industrial town zones across Karachi had unanimously agreed that they would pay electricity bills without the ISPA charges, and no additional charges would be paid by anyone so K-Electric must advice banks to accept electricity bill payments without the ISPA.
“Failure to accept payments without the ISPA would leave the industrialists with no other option but not to pay the entire bill,” he added.
Vice Chairman BMG Zubair Motiwala, General Secretary BMG AQ Khalil, President KCCI Agha Shahab Ahmed and others were also present on the occasion.
Siraj Teli demanded of the federal government to stop injustices and have some mercy on the people and the business and industrial community of Karachi, which contributed more than 70 percent of revenue to the national exchequer and yet the business and industrial community of this city was compelled to pay all the taxes and go through all kinds of injustices and discrimination which was unacceptable.
“Karachiites are tired and losing their patience now, but we still are calm otherwise whosoever sits in this auditorium today would have gone out onto the streets along with thousands of labourers to protest against the policies of the government,” he said.
Siraj Teli further pointed out that on the one hand Prime Minister Imran Khan declared government’s support for the industries, businesses and even relief to the exporters but on the other hand his aide had been adopting measures to completely destroy industries and businesses.
He said that although some relief measures have been announced and more have also been assured by Prime Minister in the days to come but all these measures and relief were useless as the industries remain shut and exports around the globe have come to a halt because of the coronavirus.
He further said that the reduction of just 0.75 percent in interest rates was a joke which is way beyond the understanding of the business & industrial community as many countries all around the world have reduced their interest rates and even gone to zero or negative but unfortunately, in Pakistan a meager reduction of just 0.75 percent was announced by Governor SBP.
Commenting on the disaster being caused by coronavirus, he said that the entire world including Pakistan was completely disturbed because of the life-threatening virus which has confined 90 percent of Karachi’s population at their homes which is a good sign as it would help in containing this virus from spreading further.
The Sindh government, particularly the chief minister of Sindh, had been doing a commendable job in dealing with the coronavirus, and they deserved to be highly appreciated.
