Gas supply to provinces to be on equitable basis: minister tells National Assembly

The National Assembly was assured on Wednesday that gas supply to provinces would be made on equitable basis. "There would be more gas load shedding in January. It (load shedding) is not a question of non-availability; rather it is an issue of availability since there is no gas in the country," Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain told the House while winding up debate on an adjournment motion regarding gas load shedding.
He said that there is severe crisis of energy in the country, but unfortunately the previous governments did not take it seriously and did not make any comprehensive policy to overcome the crisis. He said there is shortage of gas, and a policy has been evolved for its conservation under which the domestic consumers would be encouraged to install solar heaters and geysers.
The Minister said, "We will have to go to alternative sources including LPG to meet the shortfall. He said that as long as the CNG stations are not closed the country will continue to face the gas shortfall." The Minister said the gas demand had risen significantly during last few years while its production stands at around 4.2 million cubic feet, which is not enough to meet the current requirements.
The Minister gave reference of Article 158 of the Constitution, which reads: "The Province in which a well-head of natural gas is situated shall have precedence over other parts of Pakistan in meeting the requirements from the well-head, subject to the commitments and obligations as on the commencing day," to justify gas load shedding in Punjab.
He said that after 18th Amendment, federal government does not have power to provide gas or natural resources to provinces. Such issues would be resolved in Council of Common Interests (CCI), which is chaired by the Prime minister and participated by the Chief Ministers of all provinces.
Giving details of production and consumption of gas, he said: "Punjab produces 5 percent and consumes 45 percent; Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa produces 9 percent and consumes 4 percent; Sindh produces 66 percent and consumes 44 percent; and Balochistan produces 19 percent and consumes 7 percent of gas." He said that domestic consumers of Punjab had increased by 64 percent; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by 10 percent; Sindh by 22 percent, and Balochistan by 2 percent.
In addition, he quoted extensive use of CNG as another reason behind the load shedding and said that consumption of gas by CNG stations in Punjab had increased by 47 percent. He said that the CNG stations are also involved in theft of gas, "and January next year we are going to rationalise tariff and will increase CNG stations tariff". He said that a meeting of the concerned standing committee would be convened to propose remedial measures to overcome the situation.
He said: "We will have to go to alternative sources, including the LPG, to meet the shortfall." Asim said that the government is going towards gas tariff rationalisation and tariffs of CNG and fertiliser companies will be increased next month. The Minister said that the House had already passed the gas theft bill under which strict punishments will be awarded to those involved in the pilferage. The opposition members supported the minister's remarks regarding closure of the CNG stations.
Earlier, opposition members expressed grave concern over gas load shedding, saying that it had adversely affected the routine life of the people that compelled them to come on the streets in protest against load shedding, urging the government to take urgent steps for permanent solution of the problem. The members said either a parliamentary committee be constituted or the matter be sent to the concerned committee with the task to propose remedial measures to overcome the gas load shedding.
They pointed out that installation of CNG cylinders in public transport poses a serious threat to the lives of the commuters. The members also raised concerns over the hike in power and gas tariffs. Those who spoke on the adjournment motion were Barjees Tahir, Aftab Ahmad, Afzaal Hussain, Shakeel Awan, Abid Sher Ali and Muhammad Asif.