Business community has urged Punjab Chief Minister, Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif to take up the matter of gas suspension to Punjab industries with Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and play his role to get this issue resolved, as industries in the province are 'on their deathbed'.
In their joint statement on Tuesday, Pakistan Industrial and Traders Association Front (PIAF), Chairman Irfan Qaiser Sheikh, Lahore Township Industries Association Chaudhry Zaheer Bhutta, Chairman Ferozepur Road Atari Industrial Association Shahid Baig and President Kahna Kacha Industrial Association Mehmood Akhtar said that discrimination with Punjab in supplying gas is not only putting lives of thousands of families at stake, but also wrecking economy of the largest province of the country.
They said that hundreds of industrial units have closed down their operations while thousands of industrial workers lost employment, warning that if the situation remains the same, peace could be at risk. They added that the anti-industry attitude of SNGPL authorities is pushing the industry towards annihilation.
They further said exporters are losing their orders as gas suspension to industries has halted production process, and days are not far when Punjab would become a trading place instead of a manufacturing hub. The traders and industrialists asked Chief minister Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif to play his role and take up the matter with Prime Minister for early restoration of gas supply to industries to save thousands of people from starvation.