Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday held out assurance to the National Assembly that the issues of natural gas supply to Punjab and other provinces would be resolved, as it is also part of the ongoing dialogue being held between the government and Pakistan Muslim League-N.
Responding to a point of order of the PML-N's MNA Abid Sher Ali, the Prime Minister said that the government was serious in resolving the issue as early as possible to remove deprivation, however, added that there were some legal and constitutional constraints, which bar the federal government to provide adequate gas to the Punjab. He said that Constitution says that the areas producing gas have first right over it, adding that courts in the provinces have also issued stay order in this regard, therefore, he added that gas in winter season could not be supplied to Punjab in required quantity.
Gilani further said that the issue of gas and electricity load management was also on the agenda of dialogue being held between the economic teams of PPP and PML-N, adding that he also belongs to Punjab and they can't ignore the province in this regard.
He said that Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif had also conveyed his viewpoint on gas management. He said that the government had offered to place the matter before the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and another appropriate forum to take it up in the joint sitting of Parliament. But, he added that the Chief Minister wanted to resolve the matter through dialogue.
Earlier, while speaking on a point of order PML-N's Abid Sher Ali referred to the promised made by Prime Minister on floor of the House that the matter would be resolved immediately. He urged the federal government to end "step-mother" like treatment with Punjab. He said that people in Punjab especially the industrial city Faisalabad was facing serious hardships due to load shedding of gas, while thousands of labourers have lost their jobs due to closure of many industrial units.
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