Divorce rate linked to gas load-shedding, MNA claims

MNA says husbands get irritated as wives are unable to cook food

ISLAMABAD: The lower house of parliament was informed on Tuesday that the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project has yet to benefit from a nuclear agreement that was supposed to ease economic sanctions on Tehran.

“Any progress on the project was not possible unless international sanctions are completely lifted on Tehran,” Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said while taking part in a debate on gas load-shedding.



Earlier, the National Assembly resumed its proceedings with Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi in the chair. The government faced scathing criticism in the National Assembly over its failure to overcome gas loadshedding, with one of its members describing it as one of the leading causes behind an increase in the divorce rate in the country.

“Squabbles have become common as housewives have been unable to cook food or breakfast on time because of excessive gas loadshedding,” noted PML-N MNA Tahira Aurangzeb, the mother of Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb.

“As a result men get irritated, tearing couples apart in the long run,” she claimed, adding gas loadshedding has spawned a real menace.

She questioned the government’s efforts about progress made so far on the multi-billion dollar Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project and demanded that the house should be updated on the subject.

“The house should be informed who exactly is responsible for the mess [in the family life of consumers], she said.

The debate began when Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) MNA Naeema Kishwar Khan tabled a resolution on gas loadshedding. She demanded of the government to take immediate measure to overcome gas shortages.

Responding to the resolution, the petroleum minister said international sanctions on Iran were adversely affecting the IP project. “The government made hectic efforts to move forward on the IP project, but it was not possible till the complete lifting of international sanctions.”

The minister also claimed that there was 33% increase in oil and gas exploration, adding the success ratio was 54%. He stated that 90 new discoveries of gas had been made in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.



Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Naeema Kishwar Khan and others regarding baseless allegations levelled by a private TV channel against party leaders – including Maulana Fazlur Rehman of having flats in Nirvana in London, Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told the house that Pemra had established a Council of Complaints which takes action on such remarks.

The minister said TV channels were given warnings, fined and banned for certain duration for airing objectionable material. He said it was unfortunate that baseless allegations were levelled on political parties and leadership in talk shows.

The minister assured the house that action would be taken against the TV channel for levelling baseless allegations against Maulana Fazlur Rehman as a complaint in this regard had already been referred to the Council of Complaints.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2016.