Muhammad Saleem

The Chinese plants used in Pakistan’s steel industry are playing an important role in reducing the electricity cost and enhancing production and efficiency, said the traders attached with the steel business, reports WealthPK. There are different types of Chinese steel welding machines available in the market in Faisalabad. Talking to WealthPK, Jahangir Babar, a steel workshop owner, said the current energy crisis demanded energy-saving approaches. The energy rates are high and one has to find ways to save the electricity cost and ensure smooth business operations, he added. “Owing to the high cost of energy, our profits are diminishing as the days go by; however, the Chinese welding plants are providing us with the required relief. The local welding plants are energy-hungry, straining our wallets. In contrast, the Chinese welding machines are energy-efficient, resulting in significant monthly savings for the people attached with the steel business,” he said. Jahangir said the consumers were unwilling to pay them as per the market rates, so in such circumstances Chinese tools helped them meet the customers’ requirements.

He said other Chinese tools were also positively impacting their business; however, some unscrupulous elements had increased their rates sensing the high demand. Muhammad Zafar, a Railway Road trader, said the energy-efficient Chinese tools, particularly the welding plants, were cost-effective and were effectively helping the traders, workshop owners and laborers attached with the steel business. These tools are streamlining the processes and improving the production standards by reducing time, labour and expenses, he added. Like Jahangir Babar, Katab Hussain, a welder, is also happy with the Chinese welding machines and allied tools. He told WealthPK that scores of Chinese tools like cutter machines, cutter blades, welding rods, electrode holders, welding masks, and welding goggle and gloves had made their life comfortable. He said earlier they had to spend hours cutting steel sheets, pipes and iron rods, but now they could do all these tasks with the Chinese cutters within minutes without employing laborers.

He said Pakistani manufacturers were also making the same tools but they were expensive and less durable compared to the Chinese products. “The Chinese tools are in a wide range and easily available. On the contrary, the Pakistani manufacturers make selected items and most of them are copies of the Chinese products. We can say that the Chinese welding plants have revolutionized the production industry, which was on the brink of collapse due to the surging prices of electricity and steel,” Katab said. Jahangir Babar is also eagerly waiting for the battery-powered welding machines. He said these machines would ease their tasks in the areas where electricity was unavailable. The welding plants energized by a battery will revolutionize the country’s industry, paving the way for enhanced sustainability and productivity, he added.

Credit: INP-WealthPk