Mian Muhammed Ahmed, Patron in-chief, Usman Ahmed, President and Abdul Rasheed Jan Mohammed, Vice-President, Shakil Ashfaq, Chairman Law Committee along with Managing Committee of Bin Qasim Association of Trade and Industry (BQATI) expressed their concerns over persistent low gas pressure in Bin Qasim Industrial Zones.
Usman Ahmed, President BQATI briefed that the Bin Qasim Industrial Zone getting gas pressure as low as 1-2 psi, problem started in May 2011 after the maintenance of Bhit Shah Field was announced, but its frequency and scope has increased drastically in the past few weeks. Many of our members have lodged complaints in this regard, but to no avail.
He said that the natural gas provided by the SSGC is the major source of energy for industries. In the past we have done our best to respond positively and responsibly to SSGC requests of cut down in consumption in view of larger interest of the country. The situation, unfortunately, has worsened however. Deficient gas pressure is causing further production losses to industries, which were already besieged by the law and order crisis in the city and floods in Sindh. All this is translating into surmounting financial losses and threatening the survival of many industries.
Mian Ahmed informed that Bin Qasim Industrial Zone is a back bone of economy where major foreign direct investment being done, the industrial zone is spread around 12000 acres where around 50,000 workforce are employed. At a time when industrial production needs to be boosted to help improve the economy, incidents like these will act as a serious deterrent to investors local as well as foreign. The BQATI stressed over the need that the gas pressure be restored immediately in the larger interest of deteriorating local as well as national economy and measures be taken to ensure consistent supply to keep our industries running.-PR