‘Industrial gas load-shedding a conspiracy to hike RLNG tariff’

Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has expressed serious concerns over gas load-shedding and low pressure in the supply to industries and CNG stations across Sindh.

In a statement released on Saturday, the JI leader censured the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), and accused it of hatching and collaborating in a conspiracy to introduce the expensive RLNG as an alternative to natural gas for the industries in the province, particularly in Karachi.

Rehman said that the industries in the city would not have been facing a shortage of natural gas if the province had been provided with the amount of natural gas it deserves. He also highlighted the plight of the people associated with the natural gas and CNG sector.

The JI leader said that the relevant authorities cut the gas connections of companies without any prior notice if some units consume more gas than they usually do. He said that factory owners are being pressurised into shifting to the expensive RLNG option when they approach the SSGC for the restoration of their gas connections.

He also said that the situation and policy of the gas company is resulting in sheer injustice to the industrial sector in the city, warning that the prevalent circumstances will not be tolerated any more.

He pointed out that the gas situation prevailing in the metropolis has been making it difficult for the relevant industries to complete their export orders on time. He warned the SSGC to mend its ways, otherwise his part will devise a strategy on the issue in consultation with the stakeholders. He demanded that the federal government provide the amount of natural gas to Sindh it merits to ensure the smooth flow of the industrial process.