“Punjab is being treated unfairly when it comes to gas closures. Our industrial sector is being adversely affected and people are being deprived of their livelihood,” the chief minister stated after a meeting with industrialists.
Calling the closures “a premeditated conspiracy against Punjab”, he warned the federal government that he would be forced to
join the industrialists in their protests. “This is not a threat but a demand for Punjab’s legitimate rights. All we want is the implementation of a uniform policy that treats every province the same way,” he explained.
The chief minister expressed his surprise over the ‘biased’ policy even after the recent meeting with the federal minister and secretary for Petroleum during which it was decided that a uniform formula would be adopted for the suspension of gas supply to the five provinces. “We decided that gas supply would be suspended for two days in each of the provinces. That is on record,” said a dismayed Shahbaz Sharif.
Sharif demanded a uniform policy for gas closures, adding, “The Punjab should be given its rightful share of gas.” He assured the presidents of chambers of commerce and industry, industrialists and chairman of APTMA that he will soon contact the prime minister so that the issue could be resolved. “I will meet him along with a representative delegation of industrialists and traders,” Sharif said.
The supply of gas to industries in the Punjab has been suspended for the last 10 days. “This has brought them to the verge of disaster”, said the chief minister, since they had to cancel orders worth billions of rupees as a result.
The province requires 600 MMCF of gas a week. It is currentlybeing provided only 180 MMCF and the supply from the Sui Northern Pipelines grid has also been stopped.
“Punjab proved that it wants prosperity in all the provinces by supporting the National Finance Commission Award,” the chief minister told reporters. Sharif said that he did not want to take the matter to the court just yet. He said he was confident that justice would be done on the basis of facts. Approaching the court, he apprehended, will “weaken the Federation”. “I will raise the matter in the Council of Common Interests if need be,” the chief minister said.
Sharif also sought the media’s help in highlighting the difficulty that the province is in.
Earlier, representatives from several associations of industries shared their apprehensions with the chief minister. National Assembly, member Pervaiz Malik, secretaries of Industries, Trade & Investment and Sui Northern Gas managing director were also present on the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2010.
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