Mr. Ismail Suttar, President of the Lasbela Chamber of Commerce and Industry warned that the acute shortage of Gas and very low gas pressures in Hub have forced many factories to partially or completely close down and others may do the same having no energy option. He said that Baluchistan is the most underdeveloped province of Pakistan which has very few industries at Hub which is the only organized industrial area of Balochistan and needs immediate help and attention from the authorities in terms of Gas pressure which has now forced the industries to either go slow or suspend production.
Addressing an urgent meeting of the Executive committee of the Lasbela Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he said that as per Article 158 of the Constitution of Pakistan, the province in which a well-head of natural gas is situated shall have precedence over other parts of Pakistan in meeting the requirements of the well-head even then industries of Hub Industrial Area which host 99% of the industrial sector of Balochistan, is being deprived of adequate gas for last several months.
He said that extremely low gas pressure and frequent unavailability are making it difficult for all industries located in the Hub Industrial Area to run the mills and fulfill their export commitments well in time. The Balochistan High Court has provided relief to the industrial units of Baluchistan and Hub Industrial Area under a constitutional petition where the Deputy Attorney General, conceded and fairly suggested preferred treatment.
Mr. Ismail informed the meeting that Sui Southern Gas Company, in February 2015 also acknowledged the court order and stated that in the province of Baluchistan, there will be no gas load management measures being undertaken even then industries of Hub Industrial Area are facing load management and low gas pressure resulting in the industries are compelled to shut down their production.
Mr. Ismail appealed to the Prime Minister of Pakistan / the Chief Minister of Baluchistan to rescue industries located in the Hub Industrial Area which are compelled to shut down their production due to the denial of gas.