Gas supply to industrial sector on 'special priority' demanded

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Slamming the government's policy on gas cuts, the value-added Textile Forum said it is "ruining" the already over burdened textile export sector.

"The policy of the government relating to gas is unfortunately ruining the already over burdened industrial sector, especially the vital textile export sector," said Chief Coordinator, value added Textile Forum Jawed Bilwani.

He demanded of the government to supply the gas on a "special priority" to the industrial sector, saying the country's manufacturing sector provides huge employment and earn foreign exchange to the national exchequer.

He said globally industrial sector is placed first on the government's policies but in Pakistan the situation is contradictory as the government at the expense of export-manufacturing sector fosters the CNG sector by supplying the gas.

"Nowhere in the world the industries are discouraged and crushed like in our country where the government is out to ruin the industry at the cost of supply of gas to the CNG sector," he regretted.

He said the government of regional countries is providing all key facilities, incentives to their manufacturing sectors, besides an adequate energy supply.

Showing concerns, Bilwani said the country could not afford rise in the existing unemployment and warned the closures of industrial units because of gas cuts would badly hit jobs. "The situation could also lead to a serious law and order dilemma," he added.

He proposed that only for winter season the tariff of gas should be raised in parity with the diesel price to protect the passengers from unjustified fares the transport sector charges from them.

"Transporters run their vehicles on CNG but charge fares on the basis of diesel price. Therefore, the CNG price should be increased in winters to discourage the transporters and save the gas for industrial and household use," the chief coordinator of value-added textile sector said.

He reiterated that industrial sector including textile one is the backbone of the national economy, which is faced with the "severest ever shortage of vital energy".

He said the gas shortage also made a large number of industrial units close production, consequently these units are being relocated to abroad as the investors want to secure their capital.