The lawmakers in the session of the Balochistan Assembly on Saturday passed a resolution seeking resolution of issue of gas loadshedding and low gas pressure besides fulfilment of the federal government's promise to provide natural gas to all the districts of Balochistan. Deputy Speaker Syed Matiullah Agha presided over the assembly session.
Pakistan Muslim League-Q MPA Sheikh Jaffar Mandokhel moved the resolution which demanded of the government to overcome the issue of blowing up of pipelines of natural gas in Balochistan besides making Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) bound to restore gas pressure in the province.
It also demanded of the federal government to fulfil the promise announced by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani that all remaining districts of Balochistan would be provided natural gas facility. Delivering his speech, the mover said that natural gas was being extracted from Balochistan but most parts of the province were deprived of natural gas facility.
He alleged SSGC for low gas pressure in Quetta and other cities, which had been facing minus temperature. He said that 18 hours prolonged electricity loadshedding being carried out by WAPDA in Balochistan on daily basis which had devastated fruit gardens and standing crops in the province. The minister without portfolio Nasreen Khaitran said that gas loadshedding and low gas pressure had pushed people of Quetta to be suffered from pneumonia and other diseases. She said that electricity outages had badly damaged the economy of Balochistan.
Minister for Prosecution Rahila Durrani alleged that gas meters installed by SSGC are also running during the gas loadshedding timings. She further alleged that employees of SSGC were making bills of consumers without noting used unit numbers from gas meters.
Minister for Labour Molvi Sarwar said that ministries and departments including SSGC, WAPDA and PIA are committing atrocities with people of Balochistan. He warned that they would tender their resignations from assemblies if problems of Balochistan were not resolved on priority basis.
Minister for Education Tahir Mehmood said that Pakistan Peoples Party led government was serious to address issues of Balochistan. Minister for Local Government Abdul Khaliq Bashar Dost lamented that SSGC and WAPDA had been carrying out load shedding of gas and electricity during the snowfall season.
MPA Ghulam Jan Baloch said that most areas of Balochistan were still deprived of electricity and natural gas despite passage of 62 years. Minister for Quetta Development Authority Haji Ismail Gujjar blamed the policies of previous governments for current gas and electricity loadshedding in the country.
Minister for Finance Mir Asim Kurd said that agriculture sector of Balochistan has badly damaged due to electricity load shedding. The chair put the resolution to the house, which adopted it unanimously. Later, the chair adjourned the house until January 31.