Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has called upon the government to ensure uninterrupted gas supply to industry and CNG sector as massive gas load shedding to these sectors is causing great financial losses.
ICCI Acting President Khalid Chaudhry has said despite the fact that the demand for gas witnesses a decrease in summer season, supply of gas for only 18 hours in a week to CNG stations in Potohar Region is a great injustice with the entrepreneurs of this sector. He said even in the summer season, low gas pressure is being experienced, which is astonishing.
He called upon Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to intervene and take urgent notice of this situation as well as issue orders for uninterrupted gas supply to industry and CNG stations.
He said there is no gas loadshedding in KP while the situation is same in Sindh. Even Punjab is providing gas for three days in a week, but discrimination is being done against Potohar Region by supplying gas for only 18 hours in a week and that too at low pressure.
He said due to low gas pressure, industry is badly suffering and in spite of the hike in gas tariff, the situation has not improved. He said situation of gas supply in provinces is better as compared to the center, which is unfortunate. He stressed for uniform gas tariffs and gas load management throughout the country.
Chaudhry said that the present government had promised during its election campaigns that after coming into power, they would improve gas and electricity supply, but “the on ground situation is totally against their promises”.
On one hand, electricity and gas tariffs have been hiked and on the other, load shedding has also increased. He appealed to the government to end discriminatory treatment with Potohar Region and take measures for consistent gas supply to industry and CNG sector.
