Industrialists protest against low gas pressure

Say 30% of processing units have already closed down in the city.

FAISALABAD:

Hundreds of textile mill owners and other industrialists on Friday staged a protest sit-in in front of the office of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) at Sargodha Road against low gas pressure at their manufacturing units.

They blocked the road by burning tyres, disrupting traffic for hours. The protesters were holding banners and placards inscribed with their demands, including supply of gas at full pressure.

They also chanted slogans against SNGPL authorities and accused them of arbitrarily reducing gas pressure to industrial units, which had ruined their business.

They said over 30 per cent processing units had closed down due to low gas pressure, leaving thousands jobless.

Citing an example, the industrialists said in other countries, the industrial sector was provided maximum incentives and relief.

If this practice continues, soon remaining units would also shut down, they said and warned that if gas pressure was not restored according to standards, they would besiege the SNGPL office for an indefinite period.

They asked the government to direct SNGPL authorities to supply gas to industrial units at full pressure in winter because gas was a basic input required to run the wheels of industry.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2011.