ISLAMABAD, Aug 7: As many as 198 industrial units in the Kahuta Triangle Industrial Estate established 20 years ago are running without gas supply that is seriously hampering their production.

Only two industrial units have got gas connections so far, a group of industrialists from Kahuta, who visited the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Tuesday, said.

According to them, the relevant departments had been neglecting their problems for the last many years. They criticised the performance of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the gas department, saying that roads, sewerage network and streetlights in the area were in bad condition.

They added that government authorities only contact them to collect revenue and never paid attention to resolve their problems.

ICCI Acting President Jamal Abdul Nasir said industrial sectors in the federal capital were still waiting to be rehabilitated by upgrading civic facilities.

“We are at a loss to understand the government policies about industrial sector because they are saying that they want to boost industrial activity and are also trying to bring in foreign investment, but in the heart of capital 200 industries are still running without gas, sewage, streetlights and facing security problems due to non-availability of police,” he lamented.

Mr Nasir added that if the capital industries were facing such problems then what would be the conditions of industries situated in the remote areas.

He called for the provision of gas to the industries in the Kahuta triangle, besides establishment of police check post.