Sindh's energy department seeks PPP's help to end gas crisis

Energy Department Sindh has sought Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership's intervention to end the existing gas crisis being faced by the consumers across the province.

In separate letters to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Senator Anwar Lal Dean, the Energy Minister Sindh Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh has said that Sindh is facing crisis despite producing over 65 percent of the natural gas of the country.

He said the gas crisis in the province is violation of article 158 which accords priority of utilisation of natural gas to the province where the wellhead is situated.

As per Pakistan Energy Yearbook, published by Petroleum Division Islamabad, Imtiaz said production of natural gas from Sindh hovers around 2,500 MMCFD to 2,600 MMCFD for past few years and only 1300-1400 MMCFD gas is supplied to its consumers.

This figure also includes supply of gas to power and fertiliser sectors from which entire country is also benefiting.

In recent days, supply of natural gas has further been reduced and SSGCL is supplying between 1100-1200 MMCFD to its franchise i.e. Sindh & Balochistan Provinces. Practically less than 1,000 MMCFD gas is supplied to consumers of gas in Sindh by SSGCL.

Domestic, industrial, commercial and transport sector consumers are facing severe hardships due to low gas pressure in recent days. The domestic consumers are the worst hit in entire Sindh, there is a crisis like situation in Sindh.

The current demand of natural gas in Sindh is around 1,500-1,600 MMCED. Low supply of natural gas to consumers in the province is in complete violation of Article 158 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

Despite Constitutional provisions, Government of Sindh, like other provinces, has no representation in OGRA and Directorate General of Gas, which fixes prices of petroleum and allocates appropriate gas to different categories of consumers, respectively.

Similarly, GoS has no representation in Federal Government owned companies like PPL, SSGCL, Oil Refineries, PSO etc.

Government of Sindh has taken up this matter with the Federal Government and Chief Minister Sindh has raised it in the recent CCI meeting too.

"The situation is serious. I solicit your personal attention to address the issue and provide relief as well as constitutional right to people of Sindh." the letter said.