Long-persisting gas shortage

Sindh CM has warned that the growing gas shortage might cause unrest in the province

The country has been facing gas shortage for the past several years, and the situation has only been worsening with the passage of time. It has been facing electricity shortage too for around 40 years. On both these vital energy fronts, we have been meeting with disappointment.

Recently, the Sindh CM has written to the PM asking for adequate gas supply to the province, as normal life has badly been affected by the increasing gas shortage. The lack of gas has also increased the electricity shortfall as many areas in the province are now experiencing 12 to 18 hours of power outages. Against the demand for 1,500 to 1,600 mmfcd, the province is getting only 900 to 1,000 mmfcd gas, though it produces 68% of the total output of the country. In this context, the CM has drawn the PM’s attention to the constitutional provision that the province where gas is produced has the first rights to this gas.

For the past several months large numbers of households and restaurants have not been getting piped gas. They have been using expensive gas cylinders or firewood. Supply to fuels stations has also been curtailed to 3-4 days in a week. This has resulted in overstretching family budgets, increased problems for commuters and loss of jobs for restaurant workers and ending the source of income for owners of eateries. The SSGC has also asked industries to shut their captive power plants to cut back on gas consumption. This is resulting in decreased earnings for workers.

The CM has warned that the growing gas shortage might cause unrest in the province. However, the inescapable fact is that over the years gas shortage has only been worsening while successive governments have been promising that supply would soon improve. Things have been drifting in the opposite direction. What is preventing the federal and provincial governments from telling the people the reality about the availability of gas? Cannot the people ask for relevant information? People need adequate electricity and fuel, but they are getting highly insufficient amounts of these. Give us some more, sir!

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2020.

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