February 14, 2007	Wednesday	Muharram 25, 1428

LAHORE, Feb 13: The Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) on Tuesday suspended supplies to another 200 industrial units, including 12 cement plants, to save 280 million cubic feet of gas and diverted it to domestic consumers.

According to officials of the company, it is temporary phenomenon and gas supply would be restored as soon as weather improves.

The company has to supply 80 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) to power plants, though it under no contractual obligation to do so.

For this reason also, industry is suffering more than normal requirement. Had the government not pushed the power sector above the priority list, the industry could have been receiving an additional 80mmcfd.

The suffering industrialists, however, bemoaned the behaviour of the company officials and claimed that they were being burdened without any valid reason.

The industry, especially export one, which is taking the maximum load of the current crisis, is also backbone of the economy.

A week hiatus in gas supplies and subsequent delays in meeting export orders could hurt the country badly.

The company officials also do not bother issuing prior notice to the industry. It just switches off supplies and let the industry suffer badly which is lamentable, they said.