LAHROE - The relaxation in new gas connection to the industry of terror-ravaged KPK is vital to improve investment climate and renew economic activities. 
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade (KPBOIT) has proposed to its provincial government to ask the federal authorities to lift ban on new connection of gas supply to industry in KPK which is presently consuming only 40mmcfd of gas.
KPBOIT vice chairman Mohsin Aziz while talking to The Nation observed that KPK is producing 400mmcfd gas but utilizing only 40mmcfd gas for its industry, having no gas-based Captive Power Plant or Independent Power Producers while exporting more than 100mmcfd gas to Punjab. On the other hand, Punjab industry, including IPPs and Captive Power Plants are utilizing over 1,200 mmcfd gas, he claimed.
“The federal government had imposed ban on new connections of gas to industry all over the country including KPK which is not fair and legitimate. The decision may suit to Punjab which is running short of gas due to less availability and high demand with consumption of around 1,200mmcfd gas. The move cannot fit to KPK which has surplus this energy and utilization is very low.”
On advice of KP-BOIT, the provincial government is pursuing Islamabad to limit the gas connection ban only to other provinces, excluding KPK from this restriction with a view to promote industry in this terror-hit province, stated Mohsin Aziz.
The former APTMA central chairman stated that the BOIT had asked the government to allow the industry new gas connections of up to 60 to 80mmcfd. The gas connection to Captive Power Plants and IPPs will make the manufacturing cost lesser, rendering industry competitive in the international market- a way to generate maximum employment in the area which is at forefront to fight against terrorism, he argued.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had appointed Mohsin Aziz- the prominent industrialist and former chairman of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) as the head of the Board of Investment and Trade (BOI&T) in July last year. He is a renowned businessman and philanthropist from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as his group remains to be one of the largest private sector employer and investor in the province.
Mohsin Aziz also served as a Provincial minister for Industries, Commerce, Labour, Mineral Development, Technical Education and Man Power. He has twice served as a Director on board of State Bank of Pakistan.
Highlighting the features of KPBOIT, its chief said that functions of the KPBOIT are to provide a pro-active one window operation facility to investors in the province also to identify the investment opportunities in the areas of Hydel-Power, Mining, Oil & Gas, Fruits & Vegetables, and Tourism Sectors to investors, both local and foreign. “Unlike BoIs of other provinces we are project specific instead of sector specific.
The BoI&T will focus to attract investment in energy, gas and industry along with other potential sectors. We have prepared a comprehensive plan for attracting investment in five major sectors; hydel power and gas generation, industries, drilling of natural oil and gas reserves, tourism.”
Aziz said the board is providing a proactive one-window operation facility to investors to identify investment opportunities to local and foreign investors’ in different sectors. The key functions are projects conceiving, pre-feasibility, exploring investors, facilitation and ensuring the zero-corruption in all projects, he added.
He stressed the need for investment in industry and power sectors, adding that the industrialization has been adversely affected due to unfavourable environment for investment over past so many years.