LAHORE, Pakistan, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Pakistani officials defended a decision to cut natural gas supplies to the industrial sector, saying domestic consumers are the top priority.
The Pakistani Industrial and Traders Association complained that a weekend decision to cut gas supplies was a "harsh measure" that unfairly targeted the industrial sector.
Pakistani company Sui North Gas Pipelines cut gas supplies to the industrial sector in Punjab during the weekend to meet rising winter demand, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reports.
Officials with the trade association said their sector relies on natural gas for 40 percent of its electricity needs.
Sources in the gas industry told the newspaper that the priority for natural gas distribution lies with consumers. Protests in several cities over gas shortages in Punjab forced authorities to make the "painful decision," the source said.
Pakistan is negotiating with Iran and Turkmenistan to find additional sources of natural gas to meet growing energy demands.
