KARACHI
President Federal B Area Trade and Industry Syed Raza Hussain demanded that the government should provide a subsidized electricity
tariff to Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) of the commercial capital Karachi to revive economic activity at an accelerated pace.
Speaking in a meeting with a delegation of K-Electric officials, President FBATI said the government should treat the traders of Karachi at par with the rest of the country by facilitating them with
the subsidized cost of electric units, mainly to SMEs.
He added the government had allocated subsidized quotas for the export-oriented sectors in different cities of the country besides
Karachi, depriving businessmen of their right to equal treatment, which cost them severe losses.
President FBATI also emphasized that the government should resolve the long-awaited matter of industrialists of Karachi, passing on the
benefit of incremental units’ consumption of electricity to consumers.
Industries in Karachi neither received subsidy on account of the incremental unit consumption of electricity last year nor this year
but this particular relief has been provided to industrialists in different cities of the country, he remarked.
He mentioned that industries and utility companies, mainly electricity distribution and generation companies, should foster relationships to
ensure uninterrupted power supplies to industrial zones, including the area under FBATI.
He urged the KE delegation to resolve issues of the industrial units regarding load enhancement in collaboration with the association and
its members for a smooth supply of electricity to industrial units to ensure their uninterrupted production.
Fawad Gillani, Chief Distribution Officer at K-Electric, said the power utility is transforming its system into a customer-centric
organization with a proper mechanism to address the company’s issues, mainly the industrial customers, to resolve their issues on a priority basis.
He further mentioned that K-Electric is working proactively to provide new connections to industrial customers through a one-window system
requirement to submit limited documentation for legal compliance.He lauded the role of associations for supporting the power utility in
removing the illegal connections of the residential areas and shanty towns through active drives, adding that the high cost of electricity
is one of the reasons for increasing electricity theft in the city.
Masoor Alvi, Chairman of Utility Committee FBATI, said the industrial activity in Karachi witnessed a slight sustainability in the past two
months, which is a good omen for the economy, but uncertainty remains prevailing.
He mentioned that the industrial activity and expansion witnessed in the commercial capital for the past two months after a very long time,
but this expansion did not continue due to various reasons on the political and economic fronts.
He appreciated the role of K-Electric in addressing the issues of industrial customers with a marked improvement in the supply system.
Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has emphasized the need for improving the primary healthcare system in the country instead of investing in high-cost machinery for tertiary care without an improvement in the former.
As an organization that promotes healthcare advancement, PMA acknowledges that tertiary care is important, but it believes that the government’s focus should be on the primary healthcare system. Strengthening the primary healthcare system will ensure that people receive timely and adequate medical attention without the need for expensive tertiary care. The primary healthcare system is the backbone of the health sector and caters 70- 80% of healthcare in Pakistan. Unfortunately it is weak, and we need to focus on improving it before investing in tertiary care.
Pakistan’s and specially in Sindh primary healthcare system lacks basic facilities, and equipment, which forces people to seek treatment at costly tertiary care centers. The current infant mortality rate for Pakistan in 2023 is 55.777 deaths per 1000 live births and 154 women die for every 100,000 live birth, Vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, acute watery diarrhea, cholera, skin diseases, and malnutrition are rising. maternal mortality and pregnancy-related deaths are more prevalent in Sindh Investing in high-cost machinery without first addressing this issue would be a waste of resources.
PMA has recommended that the Sindh government invest in primary healthcare centers, rural clinics, and basic health units. Providing basic health facilities, such as diagnostic labs, clinics, and trained medical staff, will help alleviate the burden on tertiary centers.
PMA is committed to working with the government to improve the healthcare system in Sindh. Our message is clear – let us focus on improving primary healthcare before investing in expensive equipment.
PMA believes that prioritizing the primary healthcare system should be the government’s top priority. By improving primary healthcare, the burden on tertiary care centers will decrease, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for the people of Pakistan.
