Industrialists and traders have expressed hope that increased gas supply to Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) from gas field Kunnar-Pasakhi will help improve gas supply to industries and KESC which ultimately reduce load shedding for industrial, domestic and commercial power consumers.
Appreciated government efforts they said that gas was discovered around eight years ago but its connecting to system was delayed owing some dispute among contractors and other, which was resolved by the present government. They said that 50 MMCFD increase gas supply to SSGC would also help stabilise the SSGC system.
They also articulated that increased supply of gas would help improve the situation arising out of a gas shortage and that supply to the CNG stations would increase considerably. Chairman, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Ehtishamuddin lauded the efforts of Dr Asim Hussain Federal Minister for Petroleum and Nature Resources and expressed hope that in near future gas supply to SSGC will help them to improve gas supply to industries and there will be no closure of industrial units on Sunday. He said that after very long time the industrialists have got a good news.
Referring to ongoing load shedding, he said at present industrial units are facing 8 hours' long load shedding, which is adversely hampering industrial production activities. The chairman pointed out that criminal paucity has been increased in this industrial area due to closure of street light during load shedding hours at night.
He also complaint of water shortage in the area and said that Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has expressed its inability to run its water pumping station at full swing due to 8 hours' long load shedding. Chairman, Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBAATI), Masroor Alvi expressed inauguration of gas field Kunnar - Pasakhi is a ray of hope after very long time.
He hoped that gas supply to industries will improve with the increased supply of gas from this gas field. Meanwhile, Chairman Businessmen Group and former President-KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, Chairman Sindh Board of Investment, Vice-Chairmen BMG and former President-KCCI Muhammad Zubair Motiwala, President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Mian Abrar Ahmad and Acting Chairman SITE Association of Industry Asad Nisar congratulated Dr Asim Hussain and his team on inauguration of gas field Kunnar - Pasakhi, a field which was under litigation for more than 3 years, has been connected to the system with the efforts of the Minister.
They commended Dr Asim Hussain for his efforts that in energy crises situation this field of 300 MMCFD approx would prove to be life-saver. It is learnt that the system has started receiving 100 MMCFD from Kunnar-Pasakhi. They also lauded his efforts of trying his very best and utilising all the resources available at his disposal.
They also showed their confidence that Dr Asim Hussain would be able to un-tap many of the fields which are not connected to the system for one reason or the other. They also applauded his efforts for utilising low BTU gas for the purpose of fertiliser production and to make the high BTU gas available for the industry. It is worthwhile under the present circumstances that each and every molecule of gas is utilised thus connected to the national grid and all those fields which are either in litigation or not connected for any other reason must be connected without any further loss of time.
They requested the Minister to see the wheels of industry, which were slowed due to gas crisis; they not only start moving on regular speed alongside the growth factor in production is also maintained. They also appealed the Government of Pakistan, President and the Prime Minister to evaluate a proposal that there should be one Ministry in the name of "Ministry of Energy" so that all the energy related activities come under one head.
By having more than one ministry the projects for progress are unnecessarily delayed. They once again thanked Dr Asim Hussain and appealed him for continued efforts to resolve the energy crisis in Pakistan. They are sure with this Minister at the helm of affairs and the way he is working tirelessly; Insha-Allah Pakistan would become a self sustained and a proud nation.
Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Federal Advisor on Textile, Government of Pakistan greeted Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Federal Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources Senator Dr Asim Hussain at the inauguration of Kunnar-Pasakhi Gas Pipeline Project at OGDCL field of Deh Shah Bukhari, a project to supply additional 100 million cubic feet gas daily to SSGC and SNGPCL which will increase to 280 MCF at later stage.
Dr Baig appreciated the efforts of Dr Asim Hussain to solve the dispute among the stakeholders. He said that the injection of 100 MCF at this critical junction of gas load shedding will definitely be a blessing to the industry. Dr Baig requested Dr Asim to also complete the other projects in Sindh including Sanjhoro, Mehar, Jakhro, Rehman, Sujawal and others on time to supply additional 122 MCF daily to the national grid.