Utilising resources: ‘Centre should concede more to provinces’

Senator to approach Upper House over gas tariff hike

PESHAWAR: Senator Mohsin Aziz said the Centre should allow “smaller provinces” more room to utilise resources for their own development and not usurp their rights.

Addressing a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, Aziz rejected the unprecedented increase of 67% in gas tariffs and said he will raise the issue in the Upper House.

“Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa produces gas surplus to its requirements and provides for Punjab. The burden of this hike will break the back of the province.” The K-P Board of Investment vice chairman said the federal government has already imposed a moratorium on new gas connections for industries in the province for the past eight years and upon that load-shedding is also being carried out. “K-P’s industries receive only 40 mmcfd while those of Punjab receive 1,200 mmcfd.” He said the Gas Infrastructure Development cess has already troubled industrialists and the new hike will add to their woes.



“Gas prices in India and Bangladesh are much lower than those in Pakistan,” he added. The lawmaker said despite making a breakthrough in EU markets, Pakistan’s export volume especially that of textile is still very low. “The increase will force the industry to close down and leave thousands unemployed. It will also perpetuate an overall price hike in the country.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd,  2015.