Industrialists seek smooth power, gas supply.

PESHAWAR -- The owners of small industrial units and factories have demanded of the federal government to ensure smooth supply of power and gas to their industries to avoid closure of their businesses and save jobs of thousands of workers.

Owners of Small Industrial Estates Kohat Road representative Wahid Arif Awan said here on Wednesday that the low gas pressures and power outages had badly affected business at their industrial estates.

'We have repeatedly requested the relevant officials to resolve our issues but federal government seems least interested to ensure smooth power and gas supply to the industrial units in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,' he told a meeting at Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Flanked by other industrialists, he said that small manufacturers were the worst affected as they had very limited resources but provided employment to thousands of people. He said that unemployment would increase in the province if those industrial units were shut down.

Mr Awan said that federal and provincial governments should extend support to the investors so...