PESHAWAR
The executive committee of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry termed Independent Powers Producers agreements as anti-Pakistan and detrimental for the national economy and to terminate all contracts with IPPs and procure electricity from cheaper sources to alleviate economic strain.
The demand was made through a unanimous resolution that was presented during the executive meeting chaired by SCCI’ president Fuad Ishaq held here at chamber house on Friday.
The chamber senior vice president Sanaullah Khan, vice president Ejaz Khan Afridi, Businessman Forum Leader former senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour, former FPCCI president Ghazanfar Bilour, former presidents Riaz Arshad, Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Hasnain Khurshid, Sherbaz Bilour, along with members of the executive committee Affaf Ali Khan, Naeem Qasmi, Hamza Ibrahim Butt, Monawar Khurshid, Haji Ghulam Hussain, Imran Khan Mohmand, Fahad Amin and Anjuman e Tajran Peshawar president Shaukat Ali Khan, trader leader Inayat Khan, Tajir Insaf President Shahid Khan, traders leader Haji Naseer, former senior vice president Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, former vice presidents Javed Akhtar, Shuja Muhammad, Faiz Rasool, former president Industrialists Association Peshawar Malik Imran Ishaq, Sohail Javed, Mujeebur Rehman, Aftab Iqbal, Ihsanullah, Saddar Gul, Ishtiaq Muhammad, Rashid Iqbal Siddique, Shams ur Rehman, Zahoor Khan, Peshawar’ bazar and markets unions and association office bearers and representatives were present during the meeting.
In the meeting, the participants tied black-ribbon on arms and held black flags in protest against the IPPs agreements.
The SCCI chief presented a resolution which was unanimously endorsed by the house.
During the meeting, banners were carried by participants with various slogans, demanding cancellation of IPP agreements, making Pakistan’s future safe, ending hour-long loadshedding, and elimination of illegal and unjust taxes.
Fuad Ishaq while talking to media representatives after chairing a meeting of the executive committee called IPPs agreements as cancer for the country and national economy.
He demanded an audit of IPPs and canceled them immediately.
The SCCI chief asked to carry out a comprehensive investigation into IPPs, over invoicing and misdeclaration of capacity. He went on to say that Pakistan has been defrauded and to make accountable all concerned and recover the overpayments.
Fuad Ishaq said people have become major victims of the IPPs and the industry has brought on verge of complete collapse.
He added abolishment of IPPs agreements for bringing economic stability, industrial and business growth has become inevitable.
Replying to various queries from reporters, the chamber president said that SCCI advocates for the adoption of a ‘take and pay’ model, where payments are made only for the electricity that is actually supplied and consumed.
Fuad Ishaq demanded of the government to utilize the abundant hydel energy resources of the country in order to produce cheap and green energy to all consumers.
He said the chamber supports investment in renewable energy sources and improvements in the national grid to reduce reliance on IPPs and enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of the power sector.
