Shutting off gas to industries: KATI terms govt’s move inappropriate

KARACHI: President Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Saleem-uz-Zaman has said that it is not right to shutoff gas to industries of Karachi due to gas shortfall; it should be extended to other parts of the country as well.

The government’s decision to shutoff gas to industries is a very inappropriate move, which will have a very negative impact on Karachi’s industry and the country’s economy.

The federal government and SSGC officials should take immediate notice of the situation and resolve the problem facing the industries of Karachi and issue orders to supply gas to the industries on immediate and emergency basis.

President KATI said that industrial production process is being severely affected due to non-supply of gas to industries and reduction in gas pressure.

Saleem-uz-Zaman said that it was not right to suspend the supply of gas to the industries on a single notice.

The move has caused great concern among the industrialists and it is the responsibility of the government and SSGC officials to overcome the gas crisis.

He said that in the current situation, the country could not bear the negative impact on industrial production due to reduction in gas pressure and disruption in energy supply, which was tantamount to an economic assassination of Karachi.

He said the Covid-19 pandemic had already hit industrial production hard, leading to a sharp decline in production for local needs and products for export.

Saleem-uz-Zaman said that such decisions would completely destroy the industries of Karachi while in the current situation, the gas crisis would lead to unemployment in the country’s economic hub Karachi and a severe blow to the economy.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021