Gas for industry to be prioritised like residential supply: ECC
The Economic Coordination Committee of the federal cabinet on Wednesday amended the gas supply priority list by placing gas for industrial processes in the first priority, alongside the domestic and commercial sectors. The meeting, chaired by Federal Finance and Revenue Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, also decided that gas use for industries using captive power was relegated to a lower priority alongside the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) sector. He said that the decision would facilitate the industry using gas in its processes. The Ministry of Energy has submitted the summary to the ECC for a change in the gas supply priority order. The ECC also considered a proposal by the Ministry of National Food Security for the provision of Rs238.42 million for clearing the arrears of wheat subsidy schemes from 2015-16. The ECC took into account the recommendations of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, and directed the ministry to arrange the funds through the available budgetary resources and settle the long pending claims.