MALAKAND: Industries in the Malakand industrial zone have been grappling with a severe electricity voltage crisis for the past five months, badly disrupting production and threatening large-scale factory closures. In a statement, the president of Malakand Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Inamullah has said that steel mills and other factories in the area require 11,000 volts on the high-tension (HT) line, but were currently receiving only 9,500 volts and at times as low as 8,000 volts. He said that only 350 volts were being supplied to the low-tension (LT) line instead of the required 440 volts. Inamullah said persistent low voltage and frequent fluctuations had significantly affected industrial output, increased the cost per unit of production, prolonged manufacturing cycles and caused continuous damage to expensive machinery. DLP Report
