President of Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry (HCSTSI), Muhammad Saleem Memon, has expressed deep concern over the ongoing gas crisis faced by both industries and domestic consumers across the country. He stated that with the onset of winter, gas pressure and supply issues have intensified, severely affecting industrial production and creating immense hardship for households.
He noted that the frequent increase in gas tariffs approved by OGRA, coupled with a decline in supply, has worsened the situation for both industrial and domestic users. He revealed that over 40% of small-scale industries nationwide are suffering due to low gas pressure and irregular supply, while hundreds of industrial units in Sindh have been forced to partially shut down operations. This situation, he added, has adversely impacted the export sector, and thousands of industrial jobs are now at risk due to reduced production.
The President emphasized that instead of repeatedly increasing gas prices, the government must take immediate measures to control line losses and gas theft, ensuring efficient utilization of the available supply.
Saleem Memon urged the government to adopt alternate sources of energy to keep the industrial wheel running smoothly. He pointed out that around the world, alternative energy solutions such as LPG, biogas, solar power, wind energy, and waste-to-energy plants are being successfully promoted to sustain industrial growth. “Pakistan must also prioritize such projects on an emergency basis,” he said, “to reduce dependency on natural gas and ensure a continuous supply of energy for industries.”
He further added that if the government truly intends to promote small and medium enterprises (SMEs), it must find a sustainable and long-term solution to the energy crisis. At the same time, he emphasized that industrialists should explore and adopt self-sufficient energy sources, as operating industries at government-announced energy rates has now become nearly impossible.
Chamber President Saleem Memon appealed to the President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) to immediately convene a “National Energy Conference” bringing together all chambers, associations, and industrial stakeholders. The purpose of the conference, he said, would be to formulate a unified national energy policy addressing gas, electricity, and other power-related challenges. “It is crucial that the voice of Pakistan’s entire industrial community reaches the government through one platform,” he stressed, “so that a coordinated and result-oriented strategy can be implemented to overcome the energy crisis.”
Concluding his remarks, President Saleem Memon urged the government to Prioritize the restoration of gas supply to industrial areas, Introducing immediate subsidies and financing schemes for alternative energy projects and to Establish a special task force to curb gas losses and eliminate administrative corruption.
He emphasized that the government, the Ministry of Energy, and OGRA must act urgently to prevent industrial shutdowns and to resolve the energy crisis on a permanent basis, ensuring the stability and growth of Pakistan’s economy.
