As a result of poor planning of the government, the recent stoppage of gas for the industries, has created enormous problems for the exporters and also thousands of daily wages worker have become unemployed.

Another shock has been given to the economy by stoppage of gas and the industrial productively has badly suffered, said Mahfooz Elahi President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry addressing a meeting at ICCI.

The industries of steel, soap & chemicals, textile are facing great problems. The exporters are unable to export products timely and the buyers are losing confidence on the Pakistani exporters, he said. Gas prices in the last couple of years have been raised by 73 percent, as a result industries are becoming uncompetitive in the international market and stoppage of gas has further increased problems of the industrialists and a large number of people, whose livelihood is associated with the industries.

President stressed that government should workout solution to tackle this problem because along with hurting productivity, a large number of daily wage workers are in deep trouble due to closure of industrial units.

He said that with growing population and use of gas in the vehicles, demand of gas has increased manifolds but due to poor management no timely decision was taken for the consistent supply of gas.

Mahfooz Elahi said that industrialization plays an important role in the economic growth of a country that earns foreign exchange and also provides jobs to a large number of professional, technical people and labour force but in the absence basic fuels like gas and electricity, industrialist productivity and efficiency greatly hampers.

He emphasized that government should take measures for the supply of gas in consultation with industrialists to avoid developing law and order situation. He said that shortage of gas and electricity in the country is on rise that will result in the increase in number of more sick industries, whereas, Pakistan badly needs investment to run the wheel of the economy.

It is good news that government has signed TAPI agreement and 1325 MMcdf gas will be imported to Pakistan to bridge the gap between supply and demand. He said that this project was envisaged 15 years ago, and after a long time, it was signed for execution. He said that government must do all out efforts for the completion of 1,680 km long Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project by anticipated time of 2013-14.

President said that during 2008-2009 the shortfall has been 203 MMCFD and in the coming years, this shortfall may further increase due to increasing use of gas. He stressed the government for the right decisions to pug in the gap of supply and demand.