KARACHI: The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has suspended gas supply to general industry captive power for an indefinite period. Notices regarding closure of gas supply were served on Tuesday.
The notices were served just a couple of days after the PM Imran Khan’s meeting with business community of Karachi, wherein PM assured the industrialists that gas supply issues would be resolved and industries would get uninterrupted gas supply.
“Due to continuous short supply of gas from different gas fields, SSGC is facing acute shortage of gas and low pressure in the system, which is affecting the adequate supply to domestic and commercial sectors,” the SSGC notice read.
“To overcome the problem and to ensure adequate gas supply to domestic and commercial sectors, gas to captive power of all general industries including the zero-rated and rice exporting industry will remain shut down with immediate effect till further notice.”
It may be mentioned here that SSGC in October had issued notices to industry regarding closure of supply to captive power.
Chairman Business Men Group and former President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Siraj Kassim Teli said the SSGC had suspended the supply for captive electricity generation despite assurances by Prime Minister Imran Khan, finance minister and petroleum minister.
“According to the Constitution of Pakistan, the province producing the resource has the first right on the resource,” Teli said adding Sindh was the largest producer of natural gas and its resident industry should be given the utility as per their right.
Teli demanded of the PM to honor his words and stop SSGC from cutting gas supply to the captive power.