KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Industrialists in southern Kandahar province say the lack of electricity made them to relocate their factories from the province.
Faizul Haq Mushkani, in charge of the carton-producing factory, told Pajhwok Afghan News electricity was supplied to the Industrial Park for only three to four hours daily. The power supply was inadequate to jeep the industrial units running, he claimed.
He pointed out: “Power generation at the Kajaki dam in neighbouring Helmand province is currently suspended. Power supplied to the Industrial Park through generators for three hours daily is not enough.”
Of 300 factories in the Kandahar Industrial Park, only 90 are currently operational. The rest have been shut down as a result of the electricity problem
Haji Mohammad Akbar, an industrialist, confirmed 60 percent of factory owners were striving to shift their factories to Kabul due to the shortage of electricity.
Industrialists say promises have been made about the supply of imported and coal-fired power to Kandahar, but no progress has been made so far.
Mohammad Aslam, another businessperson, said imported electricity supply had reached Daman district. The remaining wok should be expedited to enable Kandahar to enjoy uninterrupted power supply, he demanded.
“No attention has been paid to Kandahar. At the moment, we don’t have electricity. Our factories are paralysed, but no one pays heed to this situation,” he lamented.
Ali Mohammad Mufti, director of the Industrial Park, commented everyone was aware of the problem, but no one bothered to address the issue.
sa/mud
