July 23, 2008	Wednesday	Rajab 19, 1429

NAWABSHAH, July 22: Thousands of people living in Shahpur Jehanian union council and its surrounding villages along the National Highway near Doulatpur are waiting for gas supply connections for years.

Shahpur Jehanian, a small town with population of approximately 40,000 people, is without gas for years despite being near to Moro and Doulatpur, some 8 and 12 kilometres away, where gas supply is available.

There are many villages here, including village New Gachero, Haji Jan Mohammed, Chotho Mile, Banol Hotel, Tapal, Laloo Machi, Dal, Marhi, Phul Bughio which have no gas connection.

A number of fuel stations are also without gas supply.

There are two industries in the area, namely Al-Noor Sugar Mills and the Medium Density Firbe Board factory of Lasani boards.

The factories’ spokesmen have said that they were paying their taxes accordingly to the government but running their businesses without gas supply.

The deputy administration manager of the Lasani (MDF boards) factory, Farhat Ali, told Dawn that they had applied for gas supply connection for which the SSGC issued them a demand note of Rs5 million which they said was very high.

He said they were forced to use alternative fuel sources which cost them a lot and was not environment friendly was well.

He said that their management was ready to pay a share for the connection but it would not be possible for them to afford the whole cost.