LAHORE – The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines  Limited (SNGPL) has withdrawn a notification of gas supply cut for another day to the industry and now the industry will continue to receive gas for five days a week as per earlier schedule.

All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has averted a crisis like situation by perusing the government to intervene immediately and direct the SNGPL to withdraw notification for depriving textile industry from gas for another day a week, said a spokesman.
It may be noted that the SNGPL had notified to withdraw gas availability to textile industry for another day a week on the pretext of supplying it to Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
However, the APTMA leadership contacted the concerned authorities immediately and apprised them of the unrest among textile workers due to likely closure of capacities for another day a week. The sanity prevailed in government quarters and a direction was accordingly issued to the SNGPL authorities to withdraw controversial notification forthwith, he added.
All Pakistan Textile Mills Association  spokesman said the gas, a natural energy resource, is not being used in a prudent manner for productive usages in Pakistan. He said gas shortage varies from 600MMCFD in summer to 1000MMCFD in winter.
According to him, the shortage of natural resource started in Pakistan with the advent of CNG technology and inappropriate CNG policy back in 1992. Besides, he said, the unchecked growth of so-called CNG industry added fuel to the fire, as a consequence more than 3500 CNG stations and over 3 million vehicles are operative with a huge subsidy of Rs50 billion, not properly passed on to common man.
He said the most deserving consumer is the motorcyclist who has no option to take advantage of CNG as a cheap fuel against 1300CC and above vehicles.