February 10, 2008	Sunday	Safar 02, 1429

FAISALABAD, Feb 9: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) on Saturday restored gas to ‘selected units’ here in violation of an agreement it reached with industry representatives under which all units were to get the supply without any discrimination.

Earlier, on Feb 6, it was decided at a meeting chaired by District Coordination Officer Azam Suleman and attended by representatives of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Pakistan Textile Exporters Association, All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA) and SNGPL officials that the gas supply would be restored to all units across the board.

The DCO had formed a committee comprising presidents of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Pakistan Textile Exporters Association, APTMA and two representatives of each association which was to be consulted by SNGPL on the issues concerning gas distribution.

However, SNGPL officials restored 20 per cent supply of some of the units whose owners allegedly were well-connected.

Sources said most of such units had temporary gas connections for nine months in a year, while those having regular connections were deprived of the facility.

They said most of the units in the district were without gas supply from the last 96 hours and their owners were running from pillar to post for solution of the problem.

Former regional chairman of APTMA Mian Aftab Ahmed told Dawn that when owners of the affected units called on SNGPL officials concerned to protest the discriminatory attitude of the company, they were informed the supply had been restored to some industries according to the instructions given by the higher authorities.

He said it was ridiculous that officials did not even bothered to consult the committee constituted by the DCO. He said when the DCO was informed of the injustice, he tried to contact SNGPL managing director, but he was not available.

He said current crisis of gas had rendered thousands of labourers jobless and was damaging for the industry as well. He demanded fair distribution of gas supply to all units.

This scribe tried to contact SNGPL general manager for his comments but he did not attend his cell phone.