The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has asked the government to eliminate the Maximum Demand Indicator (MDI) fixed charges for industrial electricity consumers. According to LCCI President Kashif Anwar, a number of the LCCI's members have expressed dissatisfaction with the requirement to pay the MDI fixed rates even when a plant is shut down or output is at its lowest point.

He said the country's industrial base must be strengthened in order to provide affordable power and compete on the global market. The challenges facing the power sector, he claimed, cannot be solved by charging more for energy or other services. He said that the government ought to solve the electricity system's inefficiencies.

"These inefficiencies are actually an unjust tax on honest power consumers. The industrial sector as a whole pays its dues on time, and there are no line losses or thefts in most of the industrial estates." The industrial estates in Lahore are a good example, Kashif Anwar added.

He said Pakistan cannot afford to rely on expensive energy because it is still in development. The government should encourage both domestic and foreign companies to invest in low-cost power producing resources, he suggested. According to him, Pakistan has a lot of potential for renewable energy. In addition to lowering business and domestic consumer costs, the promotion of renewable energy will unquestionably lower the country's oil import bill, he added.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk