Treasury, opposition censure Centre over gas crisis in Sindh

As per Article 158, people of Sindh have first right over gas produced in Sindh: CM

KARACHI: Sindh Assembly lawmakers expressed on Friday deep concern over the "incessant" and "prolonged" suspension of gas supply across the province and demanded the federal government to ensure supply of gas to Sindh as per requirement and "in line with Article 158" of the Constitution.

Not only the treasury, but opposition members from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), calling themselves representatives of Sindh, criticised the gas crisis in the province. During the session, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, while raising this issue, said that acute gas shortage in Karachi and other districts of the province had crippled the domestic and industrial needs of the citizens.

Shah said, "A few days ago in this session, this Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution against gas crises in Sindh that produces 70% of the total gas in Pakistan". He added, "I wrote a letter to the prime minister referring to the Assembly’s resolution, but his office did not even bother to respond".



The CM said he had talked to the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) managing director who said, "Federal government has suspended the gas". Calling it violation of the Constitution, the CM said, "this is gravely impacting Sindh's economy, industry and home". He said that suspension of Sindh's gas was a violation of Article 158 of the Constitution and added that production of gas from Sindh was between 2,700 and 3,000 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) and against that SSGC was supplying less than 1,200 MMCFD to Sindh.

Shah said, "As per Article 158, people of Sindh have priority over 3,000 MMCFD of gas produced in Sindh." He added, "The needs of our province must be met before supplying Sindh's gas to other provinces". The CM also expressed concern over delay in releasing funds from the divisible pool and demanded the federal government to give Sindh the right to collect sales tax on goods. "We have a successful model of collecting Sales tax on services," he said.

Leader of the opposition, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, said, "We are not federal government's representatives here, we represent Sindh, so we demand restoration of gas supply to Sindh which has the first right on its gas."  He however added, "Let's dig up the causes why such kind of crisis has arisen."

Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh lauded the opposition leader's remarks and said, "It's not a gas crises, but the federal government's incompetence in managing things". He further said, "Not only gas, the PTI government has created water and financial crises in Sindh by suspending its due share".

Khawaja Izharul Hassan of Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan (MQM-P) suggested that the Sindh CM share the correspondence that he had with the prime minister and other federal ministers on this issue so that a joint strategy could be devised.

Temple attack

The issue of attack on a temple in Khairpur Mir's was raised by Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) MPA Nand Kumar Goklani. Speaking on a call attention notice, he asked, "Will the home minister please inform about the attack on the temple in Kumb?" He said that the attackers set fire to statues and holy books before fleeing and asked what steps the government had taken to arrest the culprits.

Goklani. criticising the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government, said, "For the last 11 years, PPP-led government is calling itself a champion for rights of minorities, but has failed to protect the non-Muslims". He said that the girls of the Hindu community were being forced to convert and the men were being kidnapped.

Showing a copy of the 2015 resolution passed by the Assembly, he said that the resolution demanded to provide security to temples with the deployment of police. He asked, "What happened to it?" According to Goklani, prime minister of Pakistan had taken notice of the temple attack, but PPP leadership including the CM were silent on the issue.



Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla, however, defending the government said, "Soon after the attack took place on February 3, our chairman called the CM and sought a report on it."

Sharing the details, he further said that so far three suspects had been arrested and added, "We are doing geo fencing and will give you good results soon".

Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) MPA Syed Abdul Rashid, in his adjournment motion, questioned why buildings and shops of innocent people were being razed and no action was being taken against those who have occupied public parks. "Around nine people have died because of heart attack following the government's demolition of their shops. Around 250,000 people have been rendered jobless," said Rashid.

Outstanding dues

Assembly also passed a unanimous resolution demanding provincial and federal governments to pay the dues of media houses to run their business. "The outstanding due of advertisement have resulted in a severe crisis for owners of media houses to run the business and arrange salaries for their staff," PPP MPA Burhan Chandio said in his resolution.  The CM said that they would form a committee to clear all dues, but funds will be released with the condition that no employee will be fired and their salaries will be released on time.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2019.