Punjab gas crisis

The frigid temperatures have brought with them the usual winter problems, including a gas shortage in Punjab. Due to increased domestic demand, which was hardly being met prior to the increase, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) redirected supply away from industry to meet the shortfall. The current shortfall of 400 MMCFD is being addressed by diverting liquefied natural gas resources away from fertiliser plants in Multan and Sheikhupura, three power plants and the CNG retail sector. The province’s vast textile industry has been shown mercy, for now, but this stopgap arrangement damages the economy and investor confidence at a time when we can ill-afford it. It is a nascent transition time for Pakistan as it has recently pulled out of crisis, seeking to garner more foreign economic interest. Mr Amjad Latif, Managing Director of SNGPL, laid blame to the use of compressors by some domestic consumers to harness greater gas pressure and thereby greater supply as another hindrance to the company in maintaining even pressure to all consumers. While compounding the shortage problem and distribution imbalance, the blame is misplaced as the requirement is a long-term solution. The unethical use of compressors can be pared down by SNGPL planning viable solutions. The economic expertise of PM Nawaz Sharif and his government can be called upon for devising such a plan.

The shortage in gas supply is also present in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Although not as grave a concern in the winter, a shortage in gas supply to power plants results in loadshedding, which means residents cannot stay warm by using gas stoves nor electric heaters. In some countries, this would be considered an emergency situation but our attitudes remain nonchalant. While we do not have major expectations, many would agree that a long-term solution is required and gas supply restored to industry so that we can battle our other perpetual crisis — electricity.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2017.

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