KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly was informed on Monday that 81 industrial units, including 10 textile mills and five sugar mills, had closed over the past five years due to the ongoing electricity crisis in the province.
Parliamentary Secretary for Industries and Commerce, Ali Ahmed, shared the details while responding to lawmakers’ questions, acknowledging that the power shortage had significantly impacted industrial activity, leaving industrialists deeply concerned.
Leader of the Opposition, Ali Khurshidi, expressed dissatisfaction with the responses provided, particularly regarding how many industrial units had been closed or established between 2018 and 2023. Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani stepped in, clarifying that the issue fell under the labour department’s jurisdiction.
Despite the closures, the parliamentary secretary noted that 6,856 industrial units remain operational, and 915 new units were established during the period.
Additionally, the assembly unanimously passed the Sindh Control of Narcotic Substances Bill, 2024, regulating narcotics, synthetic drugs, and psychotropic substances. The law empowers narcotics control officers to conduct searches and make arrests without warrants, with mandatory video recording of all operations.
Story by Tahir Siddiqui
