New gas schemes in Punjab breach of constitution, Murad writes letter to PM

KARACHI: The federal government is neglecting the province of Sindh, which shares largest contribution in Natural Gas production, by initiating 97 gas schemes, most of them, in Punjab, ARY News reported. 

This was stated by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah in a letter to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday.

Drawing attention of the premier towards the issue, the chief minister, in his letter, stated that media reports suggested federal government has initiated 97 gas schemes worth rupees 37 billion, most of them in Punjab, which was violation of its own temporally ban orders on new gas connections.

In the letter it was further stated that Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC), a natural gas distributor, has refused to supply new gas connections in rural and urban areas of Sindh in the wake of a ban imposed by federal government on new connections but, contrary to it, new gas expansion schemes being launched in Punjab.

The letter regarded the expansion of gas network in Punjab as violation of Article 158 of the constitution since the province, despite contributing three percent in total gas production, consuming 42 percent of the entire production, it added.

Moreover, the chief minister urged the prime minister to lift the ban and ensure gas supply to domestic users, industries, and commercial sector in Sindh.