The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet approved in principle on June 30 massive gas load-shedding, hike on its prices and curtailment of gas for CNG stations in Sindh and Punjab, subject to approval by the Prime Minister.
Sindh presently produces gigantic gas to meet around 71 per cent requirements of the country and, as per apex court instructions, the gas requirements are to be meted to the province first where it is found.
In view of the foregoing, the people of Sindh are justified to protest against the curtailment of gas to their province in order to meet requirements of Punjab to a greater extent; that is open violation of the assurance given to provinces.
I suggest the requirements of Sindh must be kept in mind when deciding the burden of load-shedding as the province that produces gas on a wide level should not be deprived of it in any case as has been done in case of Balochistan province in the past where the Sui gas was found in year 1952 but till now (2011) only 15 per cent people got benefit of the gas.
MOHAMMAD KHAN SIAL
Karachi
