Staff Reporter
KARACHI: Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo, President FPCCI, has express his profound concern and disappointment on the government’s decision to suspend gas supply to non-export oriented industries; which will result in the losses of billions of rupees, to say the least. He questioned the government that why no preemptive arrangements were made; while everyone in the government knew fully well that there will be huge gas shortage in the winter months? He regretted that only 10 cargoes of LNG are coming in December 2021 as compared to 12 in December 2020.
Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo said that the delayed tendering has proven to be extremely expensive and resulted in less than required offers; and, that too, on a very high rate. He added that only 886 MMCFD of LNG will be imported in December 2021and only 950 MMCFD in January 2022, which is 27% less than the LNG imports in December 2020 and January 2021, respectively.
FPCCI President has observed that the responsibility and liability lies with the government for the criminal negligence for practicing delay and procrastination in issuing LNG Cargoes once again. Had the tenders were issued in a planned, coordinated and timely manner, there would have been no shortage by now, he added.
Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo added that FPCCI has time and again raised this issue; and, still industries have to endure gas suspension several times in every single year. Had the government come to FPCCI for a consultative process on the issue, we would have provided them guidelines to successfully forfend the gas crisis in a win-win mechanism.
FPCCI Chief has raised the question that why the government does not issue enough LNG import licenses to commercial importers to bridge the gap? Instead, it keeps mismanaging the gas supplies to the industries.
Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo has called for an immediate and direct intervention of the Prime Minister Imran Khan to save the industrial backbone of Pakistan. He proposed that, though difficult, but the PM should consider the option of spot tendering with the help of friendly countries. FPCCI extends its full support to PM for the resolution of the issue, once and for all, he added.
FPCCI strongly demands immediate steps to restore gas supply to industries; and, take other remedial & compensatory measures to avoid closure of industrial units and loss of millions of jobs in the non-export oriented industries for the working class of Pakistan, which lives paycheck to paycheck every month.