SCCI Voices Concern Over Increasing Environmental Pollution

APP
Peshawar: President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Fuad Ishaq has expressed grave concern over increasing environmental pollution in the wake of people using alternative sources of fuel owing to the low gas pressure issue.
He urged the caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Justice (R) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah, Governor Haji Ghulam Ali, provincial Chief Secretary, and district administration to make contact on emergent grounds with the center and resolve these issues once and for all.
In a meeting with Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Peshawar Sania Safi in her office, Fuad Ishaq apprised him that the SCCI has taken up the issue of gas with the federal government, relevant ministries, and high-ups in an efficient way because unjust was being carried out with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
During the meeting, presidents of the city bazaar, traders’ leaders, and members of the business community were present in large numbers, according to a press release issued here Sunday.
The SCCI chief said the people in Peshawar, along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have been compelled to use the traditional way as an alternative source of fuel for fulfilling the requirements of routine life. The traditional methods, like the use of timber, coal, and other sources, are causing an increase in environmental pollution, and there is a fear of the spread of lung and respiratory diseases, Fuad added.
The SCCI chief told the senior official that the total gas production in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is 550 MMCFDs, whereas gas consumption in the province is 200 MMCFDs, and the rest of the 350 MMCFDs would be given to the national grid if the 200 MMCFDs were fully supplied to KP so the gas issues would be resolved.
Besides, he said that resolution of the gas issue would remove tension among people, along with the wheel of business and industries continuing to run, and people would also avail themselves of employment opportunities in the province.
Fuad Ishaq said Article 158 of the Constitution of the country guarantees the first right to natural gas and other resources in the province where natural gas is being produced.
The SCCI further said KP was put into the basket of RLNG; contrary to that, subsidies have been given to Punjab.
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 3900 MMBTU gas was provided to commercial consumers and 2700 MMBTU gas to industrial consumers, while the fertilizer sector was provided gas at a low cost in Punjab, Fuad added.
He said that the weighted average cost of gas (WACOG) policy for gas should be determined at the provincial level.