The call came from Mahfooz Elahi, President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) during the chamber’s meeting
on Thursday.
“The output of the industrial sector declined sharply in 2010 owing to electricity and gas shortages. If the leadership is unsuccessful in resolving these problems on an urgent basis, almost 30 per cent of the industries might close down in 2011,” said Elahi.
The president sought the SC to direct the authorities to take all the necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted supply of gas.
He said gas shortages in conjunction with electricity load shedding had forced a large number of industries and small and medium enterprises to close down.
Elahi further said that this problem had resulted in the loss of more than 400,000 jobs and was inflicting, on the industrial sector alone, an annual loss of over Rs220 billion.
Commenting on the decision of Supreme Court of Pakistan in the case of Pettosin Corporation against the OGDCL for the construction of facilities in Tando Allahyar and Sanjoro to process natural gas, he said about five years were taken for giving a decision. “This is extremely unfortunate for a country like Pakistan that is already suffering due to the shortfall of gas and electricity. Such matters should not be delayed,”
Elahi said.
“Had the case been decided much earlier, 350 million cubic feet gas could have been injected into the system to overcome the current crisis,” he added.
ICCI President was of the view that “serious trouble lies ahead for domestic, industrial and commercial sectors” unless the shortage of gas is addressed. “With the constant load shedding of gas and electricity impeding industrial growth, sky-rocketing prices of consumer items, both the common man and traders are finding it increasingly hard to survive,” Elahi added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2011.
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