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LAHORE: Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain has said the government is restoring the gas supplies to the entire industry in Punjab from Monday to protect jobs and exports.
Speaking to Dawn from Islamabad on Friday, the minister said the industry will get gas for two to three days a week from next week.
“We have added 180mmcfd gas from the Kunar-Peshaki Gas Field to the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) network that will allow us to resume supplies to the industry in Punjab,” he said after a meeting with a delegation of the All Pakistan textile Mills Association (Aptma).
The delegation was led by Aptma chairman Mohsin Aziz.
The entire industry in Punjab has been facing gas cuts since December 25, 2011.
The minister said the pressure for domestic consumer would also have to be dropped to ensure resumption of gas supplies to the industry. “Besides, weather is also improving and we hope to see reduction in domestic demand in the coming days,” he added.
Aptma former chairman Gohar Ejaz told Dawn that the industry had demanded restoration of gas for at least three days a week. However, the minister insisted on two days for the rest of this month.
Aptma withdrew its call for defying the SNGPL load management schedule in protest against ongoing gas cuts in the province after getting assurance from the minister.
