Industries, CNG sector: Traders oppose suspension of gas supply

PESHAWAR: Business community strongly opposed the proposal to suspend gas supply to CNG filling stations and industries for next two months.

Traders urged the government and SNGPL to reconsider the proposal, because this move will not only inflict huge financial losses to the business community but also further increase unemployment in the province.

According to reports, SNGPL, under gas load management for winter, would suspend gas supply for CNG filling stations and industries in December and January, which is unacceptable, said Fazal Moqeem Khan, president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry told this scribe on Wednesday.

Businessmen said KP is producing surplus natural gas and suspension of gas supply to CNG and industrial sector is against violation of article 158 of the constitution, which has given guarantee that the province will first take full benefits from its own natural resources.

Similarly, they added that the move to suspend gas supply will tantamount to economic murder of the business community.

The chamber president reminded that 100 mmcfd gas was allocated for installation of power plants in Hayatabad, Gadoon and Hattar Industrial Estates, so it should be clarified that where is utilizing this 100mmcfds gas.

Similarly, he said 150mmcfds gas were halting from January 2025 to the captive power therefore, it should also clarify where this 150 mmcfd will be utilized.

Fazal Moqeem said industries were consuming only 40mmcfd gas despite that proposal is under consideration to suspend gas, which is a move of destruction of industries and would also have negative impacts on trade, business and export.

The SCCI chief urged the government and SNGPL to review its proposal regarding suspension of gas supply to CNG and industrial sectors because they are a major source of employment for a large number of people. He warned of the further increase of unemployment if the industries and CNG stations were closed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which couldn’t favorable for the economy of the country.

He made it clear that if the government and SNGPL would implement its proposal so SCCI along with industries and CNG sector would compel on agitation and move court as well.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024