KARACHI - "The shortage of electricity is causing much inconvenience for the citizens at present but all-out efforts are underway to rid the Karachiites of prolonged load-shading", said Managing Director KESC, Syed Amjad Ali, in a meeting with the representatives of the Consumers' Association of Pakistan on Wednesday. He promised that there should be no load-shedding at all or at least power would be suspended for very short time and acknowledged the consumers' demand regarding advance notice of the power outage through print/electronic media. The delegation led by Kaukab Iqbal, Chairman Consumers' Association while Senior Vice Chairman Naeem Patel, General Secretary Engr. Ms Farida Essa, Regional Chairman Sindh Mumtaz Yasin Arian, Regional Vice Chairman Sindh Dr. Naeem Khalid, Amir Siddiqui, Vice Chairman Advisory Council Anwer Aziz Jakartawala, Engr. Mr. S.T.H Naqvi Executive Director of KESC and other officers were also present. Kaukab Iqbal said that KESC authorities must ensure the uninterrupted electricity supply to users. He said that for immediate relief to consumers power-generating tools should be imported along with other alternative methodology to provide generate electricity. He advanced the idea that industrialists' and multi-storeyed owners should have their own small electricity generating units and the KESC should convince them in this regard. Managing Director KESC said that every possible effort would be made to minimise the duration of load-shedding. But in the summer, use of electricity increases manifold, resultantly the load-shedding duration becomes longer. He told that complaint centres in the city are being improved to solve the problems of the consumers. He further informed the Consumers Association that KESC intends to import electricity wires from Sri Lanka to prevent electricity theft. The KESC chief further told that govt in November 2005 transferred 71.5pc shares and management control of the company to KESC Power Limited. Prior to privatisation the government had been providing average annual subsidy of Rs. 8.5b to the company. However, since November 2005 no subsidy was given to meet operational cash shortfalls. However, he said we are setting the system right, and our staff from lineman to top level officers is working on war-footing basis.