PSRMA concerned at gas closure for industry

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Pakistan Steel Re-Rolling Mills Association (PSRMA) has expressed grave concern over closure of gas to the industry.

The PSRMA spokesman in a statement said that in the past gas was being suspended to those units, which had contract of nine months with the SNGPL whereas the units having contract of 12 months were being provided with gas subject to load management.

He said that they were running industry in the province of Punjab since 1947 and being an industrialist they had nothing to do with politics but despite that the industry in Punjab was facing discrimination in gas supply when the entire Pakistan was benefited with the products being manufactured in Punjab then distribution of gas supply must be in accordance with the size of the industry and not according to the area of a province.

"Our industry is paying revenue to the government, therefore, the government should protect our rights," he said.

He said that furnace oil could be used as an alternate of gas but it was an expensive choice and would result in hike of prices of all steel products. Moreover, closure of gas to the industry would result in total closure of 28 dependent industries of steel sector and raw material was provided to them by the re-rolling industry. These industries include agricultural implement, sewing machine, surgical instruments, tractor spares, powerloom, electric fan and appliances, light engineering, housing and construction etc.

The federal minister for petroleum and natural resources and managing director SNGPL had admitted a few times that the gas crisis was due to theft of gas. PSRMA was repeatedly bringing this painful issue of theft into the notice of concerned authorities for taking action against the thieves along with SNGPL official who were facilitating the culprits. He urged President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani to play their due part and direct the concerned authorities to restore gas to steel industry.