KARACHI: President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan has urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of gas suspension and low pressure.
While expressing concerns over serious gas crises being suffered by the industries situated in all industrial zones in Karachi, the KCCI president stressed that the gas being produced in Sindh must at first be provided to its inhabitants and industries whereas only surplus gas should be forwarded to other provinces as per Article 158 of Pakistan’s Constitution.
Agha Shahab stated that RLNG, which was being imported to overcome gas shortages, must be provided to those provinces who either have zero gas production or were not producing sufficient amount of gas as per their requirement whereas, the Sindh province, which is blessed with abundant gas resources, must get gas from its own reserves.
He said that gas pressure has been reducing purposely to pressurize the industries to take RLNG, which has resulted in terribly affecting the overall production and was causing severe losses of up to billions of rupees.
Several residential areas and industrial zones of Karachi are suffering from 10 to 12 hours of gas load-shedding despite the suspension.
The gas shortage was witnessed in parts of the city with FB Area, Liaquatabad, Orangi, Site, Lyari, Sir Syed Town, Shadman Town, North Nazimabad, Landhi, Shah Faisal Colony and Malir for up to eight to 10 hours a day.
The gas supply to captive power units of the non-export industrial units in Karachi was also suspended. According to the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) it was facing a gas shortage of 150 mmcfd.
“We have shut down the supply to industrial units to fulfill the gas needs of the household consumers,” the gas suppling company said adding that supply to captive power units of the non-export industrial units will remain suspended till January 31.
