After concluding the gas-shedding schedule, the hundred industrial units and more than 100,000 powerlooms were remained closed on fourth consecutive day, here on Sunday, when Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) authorities decreased the gas pressure upto 90 percent in industrial city.
This situation also affected the routine life of the citizen, who were not in position to cook their food due to non availability of gas in various localities, while owner of the Tandoor and Hotel Owners were seen for searching alternative fuel including gas cylinders to cover-up their business. Most of the CNG stations were also closed due to low gas pressure and transporters charged extra-ordinary charges.
Talking to newsmen, Mian Ajmal Farooq, Vice-Chairman, Industrialists Association of Khurrianwala Industrial Estate said that the textile processing, printing, dyeing, sizing, hosiery & garment units and chemical manufacturing units were remained closed on fourth consecutive day on Sunday due to low gas pressure upto 90 percent, after concluding the gas-shedding schedule.
He alleged that Punjab was a target of victimisation by a political conspiracy against the Punjab government and some elements are trying to yield their political objectives by elimination of industrialisation as well as textile exports. These elements want to create law and order situation in Punjab after industrial collapse and actually snatching livelihood from workforce, he added.
Chaudhry Salamat Ali, Chairman, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA) North Zone announced that Industrialist would not accept the prolonged unscheduled gas-shedding and demanded to the government for immediately implementing the Economic Co-ordination Committee decisions. Federal government had announced to reduce the gas shedding period for two day but SNGPL violating the Economic Co-ordination Committee's decision, he added and mentioned the prevailing situation will be ruined the export oriented and labour intensive Value-Added Textile Industry.
In a press statements, Muhammad Saeed Sheikh, Regional Chairman, All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association also expressed grave concern over the four days long gas-shedding for export oriented and labour intensive Value-Added Textile Industry and stated that the prevailing situation is yielding negative impact over the national economy and forcing them to windup their business. The industrialist would not accept the gas-shedding to three days and government should be implemented the ECC decisions, he urged. He pointed out said that government had clear cut announced to reduce the gas shedding period for two day but SNGPL violating the Economic Co-ordination Committee's decision.
Furthermore, Khwaja Shahid Razzaq Sikka, President, Mehmood Alam Jatt, General Secretary Anjuman-e-Tajran City, Chaudhry Abdul Haq, Chairman, Muhammad Akram Ghouri, Vice-Chairman, All Pakistan Cotton Powerlooms Association, Muhammad Shakeel Ansari, Chairman, Pakistan Sizing Industries Association, Muhammad Ashraf Gandhi, former Chairman, Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association, and other trade bodies have strongly condemned the decision of four days gas shedding in a week for industries and half day closures daily of CNG stations and said that present rulers of the government are responsible for economy collapse and forcing daily wagers for committing suicides. Industrialists and exporters also facing severe financial crunch due to government policies, which yielding poverty and hunger in the country, they added.
However, labour leaders Mian Abdul Qayyum, Chairman, Pakistan Labour Qaumi Movement, Muhammad Aslam Wafar, Rana Tahir and others strongly condemned the PPP and PML rulers, who are scuffling each other for the political objectives and both groups are crushing the labourers and industrialists under heavy wheel of price hike, loadshedding of electricity and gas. Sardar Zafar Hussain, Chairman, Pakistan Kissan Board also expressed grave concern over the joblessness of industrial city and announced that his party will observe protest day on Monday. A protest demonstration was held at Faisalabad Press Club.
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