Suspension of CNG supply: Trade activities slump by 60 percent

ANWAR KHAN

KARACHI:  Trade activities on Wednesday slumped by 60 percent due to the weekly suspension of CNG supply in the metropolis.

Dull business activities were observed during a visit to different markets in the downtown as a small number of buyers were able to reach markets and shopping places due to the lack of public transports.

"Nearly 30 percent labourers have failed to reach their workplaces as transporters could not have brought their vehicles on the roads because of closure of CNG," claimed Chairman All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, Muhammad Atiq Mir.

He criticised the government for its move to suspend CNG supply two days a week and said the decision had caused a severe agony to the public and traders.

"The masses are continuously suffering and there is no remedy to their problems with the present government," he lamented.

Mir said the importers had made huge investments on the conversions of the fuel kits and the owners of CNG stations were also frightened of sinking their capital if the government continued its policy of shutting gas supply twice a week.

"The government should invest in the gas exploration in the country with a view to bring back the public transport on roads to help the trade grow," he suggested.

President Old City Traders Alliance, Jamil Paracha said that 70 percent buyers could not reach markets, as the public transport was not running at normal strength. He asserted that the trade suffered at least '1.5 billion rupees' loss due to the closure of CNG supply.

Paracha urged the government to ensure proper gas supply to all sectors so that the engine of the economy could continue to run smoothly in the country.