LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry Friday urged the government to give top priority to the industrial sector in gas supply.
In a statement Ijaz A. Mumtaz said that there was a need to reset priority list keeping in view the economic scenario.
He said that gas closure to the industrial sector would render millions of people jobless therefore there was a dire need that the government should direct the concerned authorities to reset its priorities regarding provision of gas otherwise situation would get out of hand.
“It is not the industry only that would be suffering massively due to unavailability of gas but the government would also be an ultimate loser on many counts.”
The LCCI President sought the Prime Minister’s intervention and help for an equal and regular supply of gas to the all industrial sectors.
He said that electricity situation is already very alarming and suspension of gas supply to the industry is like adding fuel to fire.
How the industry would be able to manage export orders worth millions of dollars when there is no gas, he questioned?
What about the thousands of daily wagers who have only one source of income? And above all, he added, how the government would convince both the local and foreign investors for investment when it is unable to manage the supply of gas to existing industrial units. He said that the decision has sent a very negative signal to the foreign buyers. “Instead of coming up with some sort of relief package, the industry is being pushed to the wall.
He said that the shortage of gas was not the only issue its improper distribution was also a cause of grave concern.
The LCCI President said that the businessmen were unable to understand that why the business community was not taken into confidence over industry-related issues and if the department was facing some supply related issues they must bring them to the notice of real stakeholders well ahead of time.
