Solve power crisis, say industrialists

Kaira for fair distribution of gas among provinces.


Naeem Ullah January 20, 2011

LAHORE: Industrialists in Punjab on Thursday urged the government to find an early solution to the power shortage as many leading industries are on the verge of collapse.

The increasing bank loan burden due to 18 per cent mark-up is crippling the 6,600 industries in Punjab, they added.

Trade bodies have asked the government to chart a pragmatic plan to tackle the energy crisis caused by gas shortage.

All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA) Chairman Maqsood Ahmad Butt said that export orders will not be met as no industry can function with four days of gas outages.

The federal government will not be able to collect the revenue target in Punjab due to the deteriorating industrial activity, said Butt.

Pakistan Industrial and Traders Association Front (PIAF) Chairman Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said that economic stability is difficult to achieve until the government provides a comprehensive plan to meet energy requirements.

Punjab Finance Minister Tanveer Ashraf Kaira believes that the gas shortage in the province is directly related to parliamentary legislation. He said that Article 158 states that the province in which a natural gas well is situated will have priority over other parts of the country. Hence, the matter needs some detailed discussions that can lead to fair distribution of energy among provinces.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2011.

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