SWABI: The huge hike in electricity tariff might lead to closure of various units in the Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate (GAIE) here, rendering thousands of poor workers jobless, fear industrialists.

Talking to Dawn here on Monday, they said the situation was very critical and every industrialist was in the hot waters as to how to keep their units running. They said their prospects of getting profits on their investments had already disappeared.

The industrialists said they didn’t know how to tackle the issue of bloated power bills, which had steeply hiked the production costs. They said they were under severe financial pressure and needed the government’s help, otherwise, they would have no option but to lay off some of the workers.

Fazal Rahim Jadoon, president of Gadoon Industrial Association, said they had already met with relevant provincial and federal caretaker ministers and presented their point of view, but the latter failed to suggest any remedial measures.

He said if the industrial units were closed the government would be responsible for the ‘dreadful’ outcome.

Another industrialist, who requested anonymity, said electricity bill of his closed unit was about Rs1 million. “After I paid the bill, I got the electricity supply disconnected to avoid such big financial burden in future.”

The industrialists said one of the units had received over Rs20 million electricity bill, and another got over Rs50 million power bill. They said power supply to an industry was disconnected when it failed to pay over Rs8 million bill.

Fazal Amin, former president of Gadoon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said industrialists were finding it extremely difficult to keep their units operative.

Meanwhile, the workers said they were not sure whether they would be retained or fired in the prevailing situation. They said some of their co-workers had already been sacked, and they might also be shown the door sooner than later.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2023