Punjab consumes 42% of total gas, produces only 3%, says Sindh CM in letter to Nawaz
Murad says gas connections to select few areas at Sindh’s expense detrimental for national harmony
Says provision of natural gas connections to politically selected areas is a source of discontent. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
KARACHI:
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Tuesday that the provision of natural gas connections to politically selected areas at the cost of the gas-producing province, Sindh, is a source of discontent and is also detrimental for national harmony.
“I am writing with reference to widely reported news related to provision of 97 natural gas projects worth more than Rs37 billion, mostly located in Punjab, by relaxing moratorium on expansion of such schemes,” wrote the CM in the letter. According to him, the expansion of a new gas network in Punjab, which produces only about 3% of gas while consuming over 42% of the total gas produced in the country, is in complete disregard of Article 158 of the Constitution.
Gas pipeline augmentation project misses deadline
Murad said in the letter that currently, Sui Southern Gas Company Ltd (SSGCL) is not entertaining any request for provision of gas to new consumers, both in urban and rural areas of Sindh, citing moratorium imposed by the federal government. The company has even declined supply of gas to Khairpur Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which is Pakistan’s first industrial park with SEZ status under SEZ Act 2012. Similarly, it has also refused to supply gas to nine small industrial estates in different parts of Sindh, for which the Government of Sindh has already paid the SSGCL.
According to the letter, thousands of applications for domestic connections are pending in urban centres of Sindh while in rural areas, SSGCL is still trying to complete the schemes funded by the Government of Sindh in 2012.
SNGPL gives green light to Karachi-Lahore LNG pipeline
“I, therefore, request you to please direct Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to implement Article 158 of the Constitution in letter and spirit and refrain from diverting natural gas from Sindh,” wrote the CM, urging the prime minister to remove the unilaterally imposed moratorium and direct SSGCL to provide gas connections to all the domestic, industrial and commercial sectors in Sindh. “I earnestly look forward for a positive response in this matter of national importance, please,” the letter concludes.
Earlier in March, SNGPL had announced that it would lay second re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) pipeline from Karachi to Lahore at a cost of Rs110.51 billion.
The pipeline was planned in the backdrop of the expected arrival of an additional 1,200mmcfd of gas through upcoming LNG terminals in the country.
The government said it was increasing LNG imports keeping in view the diminishing domestic gas resources amid growing demand from almost all sectors of the economy. Primarily, the additional gas demand was coming from compressed natural gas (CNG) dealers, fertiliser and textile manufacturers.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Tuesday that the provision of natural gas connections to politically selected areas at the cost of the gas-producing province, Sindh, is a source of discontent and is also detrimental for national harmony.
“I am writing with reference to widely reported news related to provision of 97 natural gas projects worth more than Rs37 billion, mostly located in Punjab, by relaxing moratorium on expansion of such schemes,” wrote the CM in the letter. According to him, the expansion of a new gas network in Punjab, which produces only about 3% of gas while consuming over 42% of the total gas produced in the country, is in complete disregard of Article 158 of the Constitution.
Gas pipeline augmentation project misses deadline
Murad said in the letter that currently, Sui Southern Gas Company Ltd (SSGCL) is not entertaining any request for provision of gas to new consumers, both in urban and rural areas of Sindh, citing moratorium imposed by the federal government. The company has even declined supply of gas to Khairpur Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which is Pakistan’s first industrial park with SEZ status under SEZ Act 2012. Similarly, it has also refused to supply gas to nine small industrial estates in different parts of Sindh, for which the Government of Sindh has already paid the SSGCL.
According to the letter, thousands of applications for domestic connections are pending in urban centres of Sindh while in rural areas, SSGCL is still trying to complete the schemes funded by the Government of Sindh in 2012.
SNGPL gives green light to Karachi-Lahore LNG pipeline
“I, therefore, request you to please direct Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to implement Article 158 of the Constitution in letter and spirit and refrain from diverting natural gas from Sindh,” wrote the CM, urging the prime minister to remove the unilaterally imposed moratorium and direct SSGCL to provide gas connections to all the domestic, industrial and commercial sectors in Sindh. “I earnestly look forward for a positive response in this matter of national importance, please,” the letter concludes.
Earlier in March, SNGPL had announced that it would lay second re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) pipeline from Karachi to Lahore at a cost of Rs110.51 billion.
The pipeline was planned in the backdrop of the expected arrival of an additional 1,200mmcfd of gas through upcoming LNG terminals in the country.
The government said it was increasing LNG imports keeping in view the diminishing domestic gas resources amid growing demand from almost all sectors of the economy. Primarily, the additional gas demand was coming from compressed natural gas (CNG) dealers, fertiliser and textile manufacturers.