The Sindh government has signed a loan agreement of Rs 75 million with Sui Southern Gas Company to lay gas supply lines in the cities, town and villages of lower Sindh.
The contract signing ceremony was held at the Sindh Chief Minister House on Tuesday. Additional Chief Secretary Planning and Development Ghulam Sarwar Khehro on behalf of the Sindh government and SSGC Managing Director Munawwar Baseer Ahmed on behalf of the Sui Southern Gas Company signed the contract.
Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on the occasion said that in the next fiscal year, Rs 75 million more would be given to the SSGC. The SSGC would contribute Rs 100 million on its own to make the project beneficial to a larger section of the rural people. A total of Rs 250 million would be available to the SSGC for new gas supply lines in fiscal 2004-05.
The chief minister said that Thatta, Badin, Sanghar and Mirpurkhas should get priority treatment, and the SSGC should ensure supply of gas to these cities and adjoining villages.
He said all areas that are alongside the supply line should be connected with gas supply and the fixing of new lines should be designed to cater to the needs of new settlements.
The SSGC in addition to places that fall within the contractual obligations with the Sindh government would, on its own, connect 60 villages with gas lines with the help of federal grant. This would be in addition to the work that would be carried out under the agreement with the Sindh government.