Short supply of natural gas to Punjab: LHC admits petition for regular hearing

The Lahore High Court here Monday admitted a petition for regular hearing questioning the short supply of natural gas to Punjab and required the petitioner to come up with the decision of Council of Common Interest (CCI) in relation to gas quota for Punjab on next date of hearing on February 17.
The petitioner, a member bar Nosghab A Khan, said province of Punjab is facing both on the commercial and domestic sides on account of gas shortage and alleged that Federal government was giving Punjab a step brotherly treatment. The counsel said contrary to the decision taken at the CCI meeting, Punjab is not being given its due share of natural and is worst victims of long hour gas load shedding and low pressure of natural gas hence was given discriminatory treatment.
The court after hearing the petitioner at the preliminary stage required him to furnish on the next date of hearing a copy of the decision of the CCI in relation to gas quota for Punjab. The petitioner said over 70 percent industry of the Punjab is seriously suffering for short supply of gas while a huge number of CNG stations throughout the province are forced to keep their business closed. He contended as many nine million work-force in Punjab is affected by the short supply of gas.
The petitioner says the situation has hit Punjab seriously also in terms of revenue generation while the public woes are growing every day on account of meagre supply of gas. The petitioner prayed to the court for a direction to the Federal authorities to provide gas quota equal to the needs of Punjab.