A five-member LCCI delegation led by President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh Friday had an hour-long meeting with federal minister for petroleum and natural resources, Dr Asim Hussain here at SNGPL offices. During the meeting, Irfan Qaiser Sheikh urged the federal minister to immediately stop giving new connections, apply the same formula across the country for gas load-shedding and waive off mark-up to the trade and industry during the period when the gas is not being supplied to the industry.
He further said government needs to reset its priority regarding the supply of gas as the decision to stop gas to the industry has rendered thousands of daily-wagers jobless. 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, he added.
He further said it is very unfortunate that the economy of the country is the last priority of the present regime and its non-seriousness towards real issues is giving birth to a number of social problems. If the situation remains the same for quite sometime it could also create law and order situation in the province, he feared. He termed it the responsibility of the government to ensure provision of utilities to the masses either they belong to trade or industry. But, he said, the situation is totally otherwise and a long period of four years of its tenure has passed making tall claims and doing nothing.
Sheikh asked the minister how the trade and industry would be able to pay back the mark-up to the banks that generally charge on Sundays as well when the productions in the industrial units are a complete halt for indefinite period now. How can the industry pay mark-up on 365 days basis when the gas was only given for 200 days last year? He said that the president and PM should intervene into the issue as the situation is fast heading towards a 'point of no return' and government's credibility to handle economic issues is at stake.
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