Proposal to suspend gas supply to filling stations, industries opposed

PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fazal Moqeem Khan on Wednesday opposed the proposal to suspend gas supply to CNG filling stations and industries for the next two months.

Fazal Moqeem in a statement here urged the government and SNGPL to reconsider the proposal, as the move would not only inflict huge financial losses on the business community but also increase unemployment in the province.

The SCCI chief said according to reports, the SNGPL, under gas load management for winter, would suspend gas supply for CNG filling stations and industries in December and January, which is unacceptable.

Fazal Moqeem said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was producing surplus natural gas and suspension of gas supply to CNG stations and industrial sector was a violation of article158 of the Constitution, which has given guarantee that the province would first take full benefits from its own natural resources.

Similarly, he added the move to suspend gas supply would tantamount to economic murder of the business community. The chamber president reminded that 100 mmcfd gas was allocated for installation of power plants in Hayatabad, Gadoon and Hattar Industrial Estates, so it should be clarified that where is utilizing this 100mmcfds gas.