CNG Sector: government considering further gas cut, says Bijarani

The government is considering the proposal to further cut gas supply to CNG sector to meet the demand of textile sector. This was disclosed by Federal Minister for Industries, Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, during the first session on the Prime Minister's Quality Award (PMQA) held at Federation House here on Saturday.
"The proposal to further cut gas supply to CNG sector is one of the suggestions being considered by the government to evolve a viable plan to facilitate the textile sector," Bijarani said. To a question, he said the government was keen to expand the production capacity of Pakistan Steel Mill (PSM) and some 10 offers in this regard had already been received from different countries. He further said the Industrial Policy, which were being finalised presently, would be implemented within two to three months.
He said the government had asked the auto sector to reduce the prices of vehicles to affordable level and if they did not do so, the concerned authority would take stern action against them. He said the government had taken serious notice of the recent hike in Urea prices and a meeting has been convened for coming Tuesday to take decision in this regard.
He assured that the government would extend full support to business fraternity for the revival of country's economy, adding that the success of PMQA programme depends only on teamwork and the business community should come forward to make it successful.
Earlier, the newly elected President FPCCI Senator Haji Ghulam Ali expressed his gratitude to the federation members for selecting him for the said portfolio. Khawaja Muhammad Yousuf, CEO National Productivity Organisation (NPO), in his electronic presentation, highlighted the criteria for PMQA. He informed that the NPO had conducted 73 audits of energy efficiency in textile sector and saved 10 percent energy through the said exercise.
During the question answer session, Engr. Jabbar strongly recommended to the NPO to conduct energy efficiency audit of power distribution companies to minimise distribution losses up to 15 to 20 percent. He criticised the criteria for applying for PMQA, saying that as per the criteria participants are required to produce internal information of the organisation, which would not be shared by anyone.
He further said the authorities of NPO should also focus Small and Medium Enterprises. S.M Munir urged the government to privatise PSM, saying that the private sector is more capable than public sector to run PSM professionally. He also condemned the recent hike in POL products' prices, saying that the hike would hit the already suppressed nation hard.