The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry has called for an up-to-date power transmission and distribution system to avoid whopping shut-downs in hot summer season. In a statement, the LCCI President Mian Nauman Kabir said that country has witnessed huge power supply suspensions in past that pushed the country into darkness.
He said that various small and large scale power projects are expected to be completed and operational in future but policy makers would have to keep in their minds that existing power transmission and distribution system would not be able to bear the load of additional power production, particularly during the summer seasons.
The LCCI President urged the government not to tolerate any negligence towards the up-gradation of power transmission and distribution system as it can cause unbearable loss to the trade, industry and economy.
LCCI Senior Vice President Mian Rehman Aziz Chan and Vice President Haris Ateeq urged the government to ensure early completion of ongoing power projects as it is not only a must to keep the industrial wheel moving but the economic growth is also linked with sufficient and cheap energy.
Meanwhile, the LCCI office-bearers urged the government to bring down the electricity tariff as cheap energy is essential to strengthen the industrial base and to win the international market.
They said that increases in electricity prices or additional charges to the bills are no solution to the power sector problems. The government should address inefficiencies in the system.
They said that inefficiencies are actually an unjust tax on honest power consumers. The industrial sector as a whole pays its dues in-time and there is no line losses/theft in most of the industrial estates and industrial estates in Lahore are one example.
They also added that Pakistan needs development of renewable energy resources as it would be prevailing in future. To encourage local and foreign investors to invest in this particular area, the government should exempt duties and taxes on the solar equipment.
