Oxygen producers have warned that Pakistan may face shortage of the life-supporting gas as the demand has grown due to the deadly third wave of COVID-19 in the country.
In a joint statement, they said that they have been producing oxygen at their maximum capacity and if coronavirus cases continue to rise, the country could face its shortage as being witnessed by India.
The oxygen producers said that most of the domestic production remains allocated to the health sector and that if all plants produce oxygen at full capacity, they can hardly meet the needs of the health sector.
They also demanded uninterrupted supply of electricity for run their plants without any interruption.
Earlier, Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar had said that the country had already utilising 90 percent of its total gas production and could face a shortage if the situation was not controlled.
Briefing the nation about the decisions taken by the National Coordination Committee, which met on Friday with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair, he said that the government was aware of the critical situation and was taking steps to ensure supply.
“We are working to enhance capacity and will import oxygen if needed,” he added.
