President of the Industrialists Association, Peshawar (IAP), Nauman Wazir, has expressed serious concern over disconnection of gas supply to industrial units in Peshawar.
In a press statement issued here on Tuesday, president of IAP demanded of the authorities of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) to forthwith restore gas supply to industrial units and save the industry of the province from facing huge losses.
He said there are around 460 industrial units in Peshawar out of which production of 280 units totally depend on gas supply. Disconnection of gas supply to such units means closure of the industry for few months, which will inflict huge loss on industrialists and traders of the province, besides creating economic problems for workers of the industry.
Nauman Wazir said nowhere in the country supply of gas is disconnected to industrial units for meeting demand. But the authorities of SNGPL have resorted to this step.
He said earlier a plea was made that NWFP lies on the tail-end and therefore industries here face difficulties during winter season due to low gas pressure. However, now he continued, after starting of gas supply from Gurgury reserve, such plea of locational disadvantage of NWFP could not be made.
He said with the closure of gas supply to industrial units, thousands of labourers would become job less because the industrialists can not meet their expenses without making any production.
He said the alternate source of obtaining energy from gas is kerosene oil which not only much expansive but is presently not available in the country in accordance with the demand. Nauman Wazir reiterated his demand from SNGPL to restore gas supply to industry and save thousands of families from facing starvation.