Shah to take up Sindh's reservations on gas supply with Nawaz

Says already conveyed reservations to finance minister; directs cleaning of drains on an immediate basis

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said on Thursday he will hold deliberations with the Prime Minister on Friday in a bid to ensure provision of smooth and regular gas supply to all seven crucial industrial areas of Sindh.

Presiding over a meeting of Site Association of Industries at Chief Minister’s House on Thursday, Shah said, “I have already spoken to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on to resolve the issue.”

Elaborating, he said Dar had assured them that grievances of the province would be resolved as soon as the federal petroleum minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi returns from a foreign visit.

"Nonetheless, the minister assured me there would be no gas closures in Sindh," he added.

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Responding to the issue of water shortage in SITE area, the CM directed Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Siddiqi to hold a meeting with authorities of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and ensure provision of five to seven million gallons of water per day to the area.

Regarding the dismal condition of cleanliness in the area, Shah directed Siddiqui to coordinate with the KMC and resolve the issue of drains. "This is a genuine problem. Sewerage water gushes out onto the roads when drains are choked. This problem damages the roads as well."

Earlier, the CM was told that the federal government had started operating Jamshoro and Kotri Power plants by providing them 113 million metric cubic feet (MMCF) and 40 MMCF of gas respectively for Sindh, but the electricity generated from both the plants had been diverted to Punjab.

He added that Punjab's contribution in national production of gas is only five per cent, whereas it consumes 45 per cent of the precious resource.

"Interestingly, Sindh is producing 73 per cent of gas but is receiving only 29 per cent.

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On this occasion, the association’s members mentioned other issues relating to property tax, supply of gas to all the seven industrial areas, issues with K-Electric, water shortage, cleansing, frequent fire incidents and traffic issues at Orangi drain.

The CM directed Secretary Industries Shazia Rizvi to float a summary on collection of property tax by SITE Limited instead of the excise and taxation department, the competent authority for the purpose.

He also asked the association to ensure installation of proper fire extinguishing systems in industrial units to minimise fire incidents.

The meeting was also attended by Principal Secretary to CM, Alamuddin Bullo, Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Siddiqi, Secretary Local Government, Imran Attta Soomro, Director General Excise & Taxation Shoaib Siddiqui, leading industrialists and senior officers of the finance department.