Haleem Adil Sheikh, MPA PTI Sindh said that PM Imran Khan is well aware with the issues and problems being faced by industrialists of Karachi, specially in the present economic sanario and eager to resolve them while having meeting with senior Industrialists at Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI ) today. Sheikh Umer Rehan President KATI while briefing the Industry issues, said that due to Coronavirus the industry is facing acute problem of cash flow as due to lockdown the orders were not timely executed, he further said that imposing of ISPA charges by KE for the period July to December 2019 is uncalled for as Industry is not in a position to bear it. He demanded that Federal government should take notice of it and refrain KE for collecting these charges. The KE is also not giving any relaxation to the Industrial sector who were allowed the tariff of 7.5 cents, he added. He was of the view that KE is a monopolistic institution and for a fair competition government should consider bringing other distribution and power generation companies for Karachi.
Sheikh Umer Rehan said that Karachi is contributing more than 65% of total revenue of the country, but it is pity that due importance was not given to this city which it deserves. He showed his concern that even PTI government is not playing it’s due role, in spite having a large number of representation from Karachi.
Halim Adil Sheikh said that issue of ISPA will be taken on priority and during the meeting Mr. Umer Ayub, Federal Minister for Power and Petroleum, who was on telephone assured that PTI government fully supports the instance of business community on ISPA issue and said that this amount should not be changed and termed it “unjustified and uncalled for”.The PTI lawmaker even contacted Chairman NEPRA on phone and President KATI brief the head of regulatory body regarding industry’s concern over ISPA charges in KE bills. The Chairman responded the matter is not in his knowledge and nobody contacted him this regard. Sheikh Umer Rehan said that KATI would provide all the details to NEPRA. Halim further assured KATI that local representatives of PTI will help industrialists of Karachi in taking up their matters to the concerned ministries for early resolution.
The meeting was attended by Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, Mohammad ZubairChhaya, Samir Mir Sheikh. Syed Wajid Hussain, Masood Naqi, Rashid Ahmed Siddiqui and Ehtesham Uddin.
