SCCI chief opposes hike in gas prices

PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fuad Ishaq demanded the federal government and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority to dismiss the plea of Sui-Northern Gas Pipelines Company Limited regarding 400 percent increase in gas prices.

“Business community and people would be forced to disconnect their gas connections and opt for alternative sources of fuel if the current tendency of gas price-hike continues,” he said during an open hearing organised by Ogra on plea of SNGPL at a hotel here.

The SCCI chief said KP had first right to avail advantage from its indigenous gas and other natural resources under the Article 158 of the Constitution of the country.During the hearing, Fuad Ishaq informed the participants that total gas production of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is 615mmcfds against its consumption of 200 mmcfds in which only 35mmfcds gas were supplied to industry and 40mmcfds gas is consuming CNG sector.

Of the total gas production, he said the KP is exporting surplus 415mmfcds gas to national lines despite that additional gas, the business community and people of the province have been deprived from gas facility.

He informed that not a single gas connection was provided to industry in KP in the last 13 years. However, he said industrial gas connections were provided in Punjab, which was an injustice to the people of KP.