ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders said on Tuesday the government’s plan for maintaining the gas prices for industrial consumers across the country is getting the mixed response from the industrial consumers.
It said the industries that are working on low-quality local gas are against this change as it increases their cost for the energy consumption. Meanwhile, those industrial sectors which consume imported gas are appreciating the decision as this will cut the cost of doing business.
Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders Patron Shahid Rasheed Butt said that Punjab’s industrial sector pays four times higher rates for imported gas while industries in other provinces sustained themselves by using local gas which costs them much cheaper. This fact has resultantly increased business cost for the Punjab-based industrial sector.
There is also a long on-going demand within textile industries in Punjab that tariff for gas should get uniform and the mill owners of Sindh are against this move. So, the government took the decision in favour of mix gas which can bring stability in the energy prices, he added.
He said that though the government showed interest in selling mixed gas, the prices are still being undecided which is making the consumers much anxious.
Moreover, mixed gas can create the problem of deterring the private and foreign investors, the business leader said, adding that the natural gas mixed with LNG (liquefied natural gas) will ensure energy security.
