Industrial sector: SNGPL announces another four-day gas supply suspension programme

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has announced another four days closure programme for industrial sector, which will be started from December 31, 2010 to January 03, 2011. Trade associations have expressed grave concern over this continuous gas shedding programme of SNGPL and declared its clear-cut violation of Prime Minister's assurance of two days gas shedding in a week across the board.
Labour Unions have announced to come on the roads in protest against the forced load shedding of power and gas on December 30, while Industrialists have announced to observe black day on December 31. Talking to newsmen, Salamat Ali, Chairman, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) North Zone said that the gas shedding of four days and load shedding of electricity is badly affecting the industrial pace, besides, hampering the industrial production and national exports.
He said that this nasty situation was repeatedly brought into the concerned higher officials of SNGPL and Fesco but they still remain unable to give any relief to the export-oriented and labour intensive value-added textile industry. The orders and promises of the prime minister were not implemented, resultantly, unrest, unemployment and lawlessness is spreading in the country especially in Punjab, which is the main target of political conspiracies.
Leading industrialists, manufacturers and exporters were of the view that the situation had become unbearable for them, as the foreign buyers were cancelling their export orders (worth millions dollars), as the textile exporters were unable to timely dispatch their export orders due to prolonged suspension of the electricity and four days gas shedding in Faisalabad region, he added.
Chaudhry Salamat Ali said that due to four days gas shedding more than 600 industrial units and 100,000 power looms will be remained closed. He said that the foreign buyers were diverting their export orders to the other countries and this situation could also prove a set back for the national economy.
Furthermore, the concerned officials of SNGPL officials remained unable to overcome the menace of low pressure of gas due to which the life has been badly disturbed the normal life in Faisalabad division. The low pressure of gas and load shedding of electricity was badly irking the domestic consumers in four districts Chiniot, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh and Faisalabad.
The affected domestic consumers most of them the household women said that the gas supply often remains suspended due to load shedding or the pressure of gas often goes low in the morning and evening daily due to which they were unable to timely prepare the breakfast, lunch and dinners. Khuwaja Shahid Razzaq Sikka, President, Anjuman-e-Tajran said that the business circles have also facing difficulties in their business activities.