Staff Reporter
A joint meeting of the industrial associations and bodies representing the textile sector has decided to initiate a legal case against the National Electric and Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) and the Economic Coordination Committee’s (ECC) decision to retrospectively increase K-Electric’s tariff by Rs2.89 per unit.
The participants, according to a press release issued after the meeting, said that this continuous abuse from Nepra and the KE will not be tolerated anymore.
If the government does not take responsibility, then industries would take the necessary steps to approach the Supreme Court.
The Economic Coordination Committee should have studied the repercussions of this retrospective tariff collection from industries which are already hit by Covid-19 and many are unable to sustain the economic volatility, they added.
Industries are suffering huge losses due to load shedding on a daily basis. They noted that Nepra has been completely ineffective in carrying out its responsibilities.
They said that even though Nepra allows stakeholders to voice their concerns at its meetings, the outcome of the exercise is absolutely zero.
If the authority is unable to do its job, then it needs to be replaced with independent and competent professionals who have the authority to carry out their obligations in line with rules, they demanded.
Moreover, they also said the power ministry continues to observe the situation as a silent spectator. The house unanimously suggested that Nepra’s nomenclature requires a fundamental change.
In addition, they said Nepra’s board should have consumer representation with at least three representatives if the total strength of the board is eleven.
Participants at the meeting feared a drop in exports by 40 per cent as coronavirus has massively hurt exports and domestic sales.
