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He termed the decision to cut off gas supply from July 28 an attempt to destabilise the steel mill where around 17,000 people were working.
“Pakistan Peoples Party will not allow any individual and organisation to hatch conspiracy against the steel mill and its workforce,” he declared.
The remarks came despite the SSGC sending a notice to the steel mill management before Eid holidays, stating clearly that if outstanding bills, estimated at Rs35 billion, were not cleared after the Eid break, gas supply would be reduced gradually.
“And if there is no positive response, then supplies to the mill will be completely disconnected after a week,” said SSGC, according to a statement issued by the gas utility.
Earlier, a high-level meeting was held in Islamabad, which was attended by top officials of both the companies as well as an official of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources.
Responding to the complaints made by the Pakistan Steel Peoples Workers Union, the chief minister of Sindh said the low gas pressure since June 10 had already caused a loss of Rs3 billion to the mill and suspension of gas supply would not only destabilise the mill, but would also pose a serious threat to the employed people.
He wondered how the gas supply could be stopped when the Economic Coordination Committee had already settled the issue of bill payments in 2013-14.
The Sindh government will take up the matter with the federal government and in case of a cold shoulder the issue would be placed before the Council of Common Interests, an inter-provincial body.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2015.
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