Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has urged the government to resolve gas crisis as the situation has reached the point that business community is planning to defy government decision regarding suspension of gas to the industry in Punjab. In a statement issued here Friday, Chairman PIAF Engineer Sohail Lashari said the business community does not want to stage protests but it is being forced to do so therefore the government should understand the sensitivity of the situation and come to the rescue of the people who are the back bone of the economy.
PIAF Chairman said it is the duty of the government to ensure smooth running of business but due to political uncertainty, the government has little time to think of economic mismanagement in vogue in various government institutions. He said gas crisis has put at stake the millions of workers attached with the industry in Punjab besides hitting hard the overall economic growth of the country.
He said government needs to reset its priority regarding supply of gas as the decision to stop gas to the industry has rendered thousands of daily wagers jobless while it has also caused closure of a large number of industrial units that were used to remain in production in three shifts in 24 hours.
Sohail Lashari said it was very unfortunate that the economy of the country is the last priority of the present regime and only due to its non-seriousness towards the real issues is giving birth to a number of social problems and if the situation remains the same for quite some time it could also create law and order situation in the province.
He said trade and industry would be able to pay back the markup to the banks when the productions in the industrial units are a complete halt for indefinite period now. He said it is the responsibility of the government to ensure provision of utilities to the masses either they belong to trade or industry but the situation is totally otherwise and a long period of four years of its tenure has passed in making tall claims and doing nothing.
He said that business community wants to play its role for the progress and prosperity of the country but government was trying to keep them busy in other issues. He said it is government policies that have forced the business community to stage sit-in. He said the president and the prime minister should intervene into the issue as the situation was fast heading towards a point of no return and their credibility in handling economic issues was at stake.
