No three-month gas cut for industries: SNGPL

All sectors will be supplied gas according to fixed quota.

FAISALABAD: Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) Managing Director Arif Hameed on Wednesday dispelled the impression that gas supply to industries would be stopped for three months in winter and said all sectors would be provided gas according to their fixed quota assigned under the federal cabinet’s decision.

Talking to a delegation of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) he said the government had set its priorities to provide gas to all sectors without any discrimination.

However, he said Pakistan was facing a severe gas shortfall and “we should play our role voluntarily to save gas for greater national interest.”

He asked people to use alternative resources for boiling water and heating purposes.

FCCI President Muzammil Sultan complained to the SNGPL MD about gas and electricity outages, which had exacerbated woes of the industrial sector.

He said energy was essential to keep the industrial wheels running and its uninterrupted supply would help increase exports and resolve financial problems of workers.

Gas holiday for CNG stations

Gas supply to all compressed natural gas (CNG) stations running in Faisalabad Division will remain suspended for two and a half days from Thursday morning, according to SNGPL.

A company spokesman said a load management programme had been put in place to overcome gas shortfall and according to the plan CNG stations of Faisalabad Division would not sell gas from 6:00 am on Thursday to 6:00 pm on Saturday.

“CNG stations should avoid supplying gas to vehicles during closure days. Otherwise, the company will hand down heavy fines and take legal action against them,” the spokesman warned.

The association asked the government to exempt CNG outlets from the gas load management schedule for facilitation of commuters.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2011.

d �83��P�� last year’s level of 15.9%.

 

On the external front, the IMF has projected that exports of goods and services would remain even below last year’s level but the imports would further surge. It has estimated $30.2 billion exports, both goods and services and projected imports at $46.1 billion against last year’s imports of $43.3 billion.

The Fund has estimated the current account deficit-gap between external receipts and payments at $3.9 billion or 1.7% of the Gross Domestic Product.

The IMF’s assessment comes just a fortnight ahead of the IMF delegation that is arriving to assess the country’s economic health and to suggest remedial measures for putting the economy back on track. The IMF mission would hold talks under Article–IV of the Pak-IMF relationship agreement.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2011.