Industrialists slam three-day gas outages in Punjab
Economic crisis could deepen as industry fails to meet export orders.
LAHORE:
Industrialists have expressed serious concern over the recently announced three-day gas outages in a week, terming it an anti-economy step.
All the industrialists, who were approached for their views, said that the cut in gas supply was tantamount to closure of industry in the city.
According to the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited’s (SNGPL) new gas outage schedule, supply to the industrial sector will remain shut for three days from Monday to Wednesday. The schedule came into effect from Monday (November 22).
This means the industry would remain closed for four days - three days due to suspension of gas supply and one day due to holiday on Sunday, said former president of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mian Anjum Nisar.
“Unemployment will surge in the province if outages continue specifically for the Punjab industry.” Economic crisis will further deepen in coming days as the industry failed to meet existing export orders, he said.
Former chairman of the Pakistan Footwear Association Anwar Nasir said that export orders worth $10 million have been lost due to gas cuts. “Supply disruption results in products not being delivered on time.”
He suggested that it would be better for the industry if the SNGPL scheduled outages for consecutive days in a month. He also said that due to the stoppage, the industry in Punjab would lag behind other provinces’ industries.
SNGPL general manager retail and sales Rehan Nawaz said that in winter season gas outages would likely increase. Talking about the proposal of supply cuts for consecutive days in a month, he said that it is technically not possible for the company to stop gas supply for consecutive 10-12 days as domestic consumers would face poor supply because of this proposal. Pakistan Canvas and Tents Manufacturers Association Chairman Maqsood Sabir said that the outages would add to the misery as they had already started downsizing due to continuous losses.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2010.
Industrialists have expressed serious concern over the recently announced three-day gas outages in a week, terming it an anti-economy step.
All the industrialists, who were approached for their views, said that the cut in gas supply was tantamount to closure of industry in the city.
According to the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited’s (SNGPL) new gas outage schedule, supply to the industrial sector will remain shut for three days from Monday to Wednesday. The schedule came into effect from Monday (November 22).
This means the industry would remain closed for four days - three days due to suspension of gas supply and one day due to holiday on Sunday, said former president of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mian Anjum Nisar.
“Unemployment will surge in the province if outages continue specifically for the Punjab industry.” Economic crisis will further deepen in coming days as the industry failed to meet existing export orders, he said.
Former chairman of the Pakistan Footwear Association Anwar Nasir said that export orders worth $10 million have been lost due to gas cuts. “Supply disruption results in products not being delivered on time.”
He suggested that it would be better for the industry if the SNGPL scheduled outages for consecutive days in a month. He also said that due to the stoppage, the industry in Punjab would lag behind other provinces’ industries.
SNGPL general manager retail and sales Rehan Nawaz said that in winter season gas outages would likely increase. Talking about the proposal of supply cuts for consecutive days in a month, he said that it is technically not possible for the company to stop gas supply for consecutive 10-12 days as domestic consumers would face poor supply because of this proposal. Pakistan Canvas and Tents Manufacturers Association Chairman Maqsood Sabir said that the outages would add to the misery as they had already started downsizing due to continuous losses.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2010.