Thousands of large and small industrial units are facing extremely low gas pressure. Insufficient gas pressure is not only affecting production but captive power generating units are also suffering badly, resultantly they have suspended their operations. Many industrialists fear that they may miss their export targets if such a situation persists.
The industrial sector pays 98 percent of SSGC bills regularly and it is the biggest source of the SSGC income. However, the utility agency has utterly failed to maintain full gas pressure in industrial area. The production in industrial areas, particularly SITE, Karachi is badly suffering. In prevailing circumstances, SITE, which contributes 38 percent revenue, will be constrained to shut down its production activities, affecting more than 500,000 labourers.
Industrialists have expressed their disappointment over continuous drop in gas pressure in largest industrial areas of the city even though industrial units remain closed on Sundays. They said that they were facing all these problems despite the fact that Sindh has a 70 percent share in gas production. They asserted that under Article 158, the province producing gas has the first right over its usage. They said that now currently the distribution of gas in Sindh is most inequitable and unjustified.
Meanwhile, Chairman, SITE Association of Industry (SAI), Younus M. Bashir, has strongly criticised the prevalent gas supply situation, particularly with reference to the SITE industrial area. He said industries of SITE were vulnerable to bankruptcy and export orders had been at stake for the last one year. He also gave the statistics of the gas pressures.
--- 21st September: No gas from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm
--- 27th September: No gas from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
--- 28th September: No gas from 12:00 am to 6:00 pm
--- 2nd October: No gas from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm
--- 4th October: No gas from 6:00 pm to 12:00 midnight
--- 9th October: No gas from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm
--- 10th October: No gas from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm
He appealed to Chief Minister Sindh, Governor Sindh and the Minister of Industries & Commerce to take cognisance of the situation as he feels that Sindh is not given its duly approved quota of gas which is although the lower side compared to the production, in the prevailing situation. Sindh produces more than 2600 MMCF of gas and has a commitment of 1260 MMCF, it is so unfortunate that this 1260 is only 28 percent of the total gas and 48 percent of what is produced in the province.
He further said the High Court had already given a stay with reference to Article 158. He asked, "Should the industrialists of SITE file a contempt of court petition or close down their businesses?" He said that the closure could result in unemployment of 100,000 peoples in SITE alone, which employees more than 500,000 workers. He also urged SSGC to carry out uplift work on a pipeline for SITE, which was discussed and agreed almost three months ago.
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