Punjab suffers massive loss, says Shahbaz Sharif

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the province had to bear billions of dollars loss due to 15-day gas load management, while it affected 15 million people. He was addressing a press conference here on Monday, after attending a meeting with Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani in Islamabad on gas load management.
He also said Punjab faced discriminatory attitude in the supply of gas, which has affected the industrial sector. He accepted the fact that there was a shortage of gas in the country, but it should equally be distributed. He disclosed that the Punjab''s industries require 600 mm/cfd of gas while only 180 mm/cfd was supplied. "Hence, due to this unfair attitude, many export orders have been cancelled and industries like textile and leather had to face financial losses. Eighty percent of the textile industry is located in Punjab and this sector losing clients to other countries after failing to meet the deadlines. This will create unemployment in the province and Pakistan will lose an opportunity to beef up its foreign reverses," he added.
According to him, in an earlier meeting, the Petroleum Minister assured him that gas load management would be equally divided among all the provinces and no discriminatory gas suspension would take place, and this was also the decision of the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC). However, this was never implemented.
"However, the meeting with Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani in this connection was very fruitful. The Prime Minister was informed about the discriminatory attitude to Punjab, which was badly affecting the industries. Petroleum Minister Naveed Qamar (who was also present on the occasion) also accepted this.
Thus, after acknowledging the stance of Punjab, he announced supply of Sui gas to industries in the province for five days while it would be suspended for two days," he said. He appreciated the Prime Minister''s timely decision, which in his opinion will foil all conspiracies against Punjab. He was of the view that such decision will further strengthen federation. "This has also averted a crisis in Punjab, and many people will go back to their jobs," he added.
To a question, he said Bank of Punjab was robbed of Rs 50 billion and in blatant violation of law the bank directors were given loans of billions of rupees and the former rules sold their mills and thereby brought the bank to bankruptcy.
To another question, he said the committee set up with regard to allegations of irregularities in the purchase of machinery for Nawaz Sharif Social Security Hospital headed by DG Anti-Corruption has given its report and it has been sent to all members of the cabinet. He said the committee has taken the statements of all concerned and also talked to the concerned provincial minister in the light of which this report has been prepared. "The commission set up regarding causing of breaches in dykes and spurs during flood is functioning and its report is awaited, which will also be made public," he added.