Sindh to begin ‘importing gas’ in a few years: Azhar

Energy minister complains of depleting local gas reserves

ISLAMABAD:

Responding to a notice of MQM Pakistan members pertaining to gas shortage in Karachi, Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar on Friday revealed during a National Assembly session that the province of Sindh will begin importing gas in a few years.

Azhar highlighted that local gas reserves were rapidly depleting with the province of Sindh experiencing the fastest decline in its natural gas reserves.

The energy minister informed the parliamentarians about how industries have obtained a restraining order from the court against the decision to cut gas due to which the case is pending and court dates are being extended.

Azhar further said 100 MMCFD was given to Karachi in winter from the gas industry. “The 100 MMCFD is being given to industries instead of domestic consumers due to the stay order.”

The federal minister maintained that if the restraining order was lifted then gas supply in Karachi would be improved.

Concluding his speech, Azhar also blamed gas connections in slums for the current shortage in Karachi, adding that gas was supplied to slums in the past on political grounds due to which no bills were generated or paid.

“When we asked the provincial government for help, we did not find any cooperation,” he said.