SHC issues notice to federal, provincial govts over gas shortage & electricity price hike

Sindh High Court directs federal and provincial governments to submit replies in the matter

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Tuesday notices to the federal government, the provincial government and relevant authorities over a plea pertaining to the shortage of gas in Sindh.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Abdul Maalik Gaddi and Justice Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan, heard the plea.

During the hearing of the plea, the petitioner, Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi, furnished details of gas reservoirs in the country. According to details provided by Naqvi, Sindh is the largest producer of gas in Pakistan, having a share of 68% in the country's gas production. Meanwhile, Balochistan's share in gas production remains to be 19%, Punjab's 4%, and Kyber-Pakhtunkhwa's 9%.

Following this, the court issued notices to the federal government, the provincial government and relevant authorities, ordering them to submit replies.

Electricity price hike

The same bench also issued notices to K-Electric (KE), the federal government and other parties over a plea challenging the hike in electricity rates by KE and privatisation of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation. The plea, also filed by Naqvi, terms the increase of Rs9.4 per unit of electricity by KE illegal.

The court sought arguments from the petitioner on the maintainability of the plea and issued notices to KE, the federal government and other parties, directing them to submit written copies if their replies by January 22. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2020.