RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The business and industrial community of the city is already suffering badly because of high cost of doing business and at the same time the suspension of gas in Karachi would not only prove detrimental to the industry but would also lead to worsening the economic crises, besides raising poverty and unemployment, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan said.

Expressing dismay over serious gas crisis at the industries situated in all industrial zones in the city, he stressed that the gas being produced in Sindh must first be provided to its inhabitants and industries and only the surplus gas should be supplied to other provinces as per Article 158 of the Constitution.

Agha Shahab stated that RLNG, which was being imported to overcome gas shortage, must be provided to those provinces that either have zero gas production or were not producing sufficient amount of gas as per their requirement. Sindh, which is blessed with abundant gas reserves, must get gas from its own reserves.

“Why consumers in Sindh are being compelled to take RLNG, when the province has sufficient gas reserves? He asked, adding that ‘it is totally contrary to the Constitution.”

The KCCI President said that gas pressure is being reduced purposely to pressurize industries to switch to RLNG. The ‘attempt’ has resulted in terribly affecting the overall production, hence losses of up to billions of rupees. “Gas resources in Sindh are largely being mismanaged leading to creating severe crisis not only in the province but also in Punjab and the rest of the country.

None of the provinces were getting the required gas due to mismanagement.

If gas resources are distributed as per Article 158, there will not be any crisis in Sindh, which is the hub of economic and industrial activities.

Referring to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks in which the business community was urged to set up industries and factories as 2020 is going to be a year of growth, Agha Shahab said that under the prevailing circumstances when the existing industries were confronted with severe gas crisis, high electricity rates, exorbitant interest rates, falling rupee, rising petroleum prices, lack of infrastructure and other serious civic issues, how could anyone think of setting up industries or go for expansion.

In order to make 2020 a year of growth, the government will have to resolve all these issues on top priority otherwise there will be no growth at all and the economic performance would continue to remain depressed or may even worsen further, he maintained.