ISLAMABAD: The Sindh government has held the Centre responsible for the ongoing gas shortage in the province, complaining that people are not getting their due share as per the Constitution.

Speaking at a news conference, Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani mocked federal Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan over his allegation that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government in Sindh was not allowing the federal government to lay a gas pipeline in the province.

“I heard an arrogant minister Omar Ayub saying that the provincial government is responsible for the gas shortage in Sindh. This is a serious joke,” Mr Ghani said, asking the federal government not to put the blame of its “incompetence” on others.

Talking to state-run PTV on Friday night, Power Minister Omar Ayub Khan while commenting on the closure of CNG stations in Sindh had stated that the Sindh government had not given “right of way” to the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) for a long time for laying of a 125-kilometre gas pipeline which was the main reason for the crisis. He had stated that the work on other two projects was under way.

PPP leader terms PTI government anti-people

Mr Khan had also alleged that the Sindh government was not ready to accept liquefied natural gas (LNG) under Article 158 of the Constitution, which, he said, could improve the gas situation in the province.

Mr Ghani, however, refuted the federal minister’s claim and stated that the provincial cabinet had received two projects from the federal government and the Sindh government had gone “out of way” to facilitate it.

The provincial minister claimed that the Sindh government had never been approached by the federal government over the third project about which Mr Khan was referring to.

Mr Ghani expressed surprise over Mr Khan’s remarks, saying that on one hand the people of Sindh were not getting gas in any sector and on the other hand, the centre was blaming the provincial government for the gas shortage despite the fact that the gas companies were functioning under the federal government.

“We are not getting gas in any department and the blame has been put on the provincial government. The federal government is responsible. This is the job of the federal government,” he went on saying.

Quoting Article 158 of the Constitution, the provincial minister said Sindh which produced the gas had the first right to it and after that the remaining gas could be distributed to other provinces.

Mr Ghani said despite the fact that Sindh produced 70 per cent of the country’s gas the people of the province had been facing gas loadshedding and shortage in almost all the sectors. He said they were previously silent over the situation only because the people of other provinces were at least getting the facility.

“However, if the people of Sindh will not get gas at all, they will question why? Despite producing the most gas, Sindh is not being provided with gas facilities,” he added.

The PPP leader termed the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government “anti-people” and said the rulers had once again burdened the poor people by increasing gas and electricity tariffs.

“Electricity and gas are in the domain of federal government and it cannot put blame on any province. The government is trying to hide behind its lies because Sindh has first right of use of its natural resources,” he added.

The government, he said, was incapable and was unable to run the country. He said the PPP would never allow this “anti-people government” to snatch the rights of the poor people of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2019