In a rare show of solidarity, the opposition members, mostly from the PML-N, extended support to the government for closing down the CNG sector, despite the fact that some PPP legislators opposed the move saying that CNG was the “fuel of the poor”.
Earlier, Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain said the country would have to face the worst spell of gas shortage during next month and the gas shortage would continue until all CNG stations were shut down. Responding to an adjournment motion moved by opposition members on energy shortage and gas load shedding in the country, the minister said despite some new discoveries of gas fields in the country, gas shortage would persist.
He said the people would have to switch over to alternative energy sources like liquefied natural gas (LNG), and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and solar appliances. He urged the opposition to avoid playing politics on gas crisis and invited them to help the government formulate an energy conservation policy.
He said Punjab produced five percent gas and consumes 45 percent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produces nine percent gas and consumes four percent, Sindh produces 66.6 percent and consumes 44 percent gas, while Balochistan produces 19.4 percent and consumes seven percent of natural gas.
He said the government was taking steps to exterminate 12 percent gas theft. During the last five years 1.1 million gas connections were given in the country. However, PPP legislator Nadeem Afzal Chann opposed the idea of closing down CNG sector, adding that CNG was used by people from lower middle classes and no one should be allowed to affect the poor in economic terms.
In response to his call of support, PML-N members, led by Khwaja Asif, demanded the government close down the CNG sector and divert the gas being used by CNG sector to industrial sector for promotion of local trade.
They also asked the government to form a parliamentary committee to look into the gas crisis or refer the matter to the concerned standing committee of the House.
Ch Barjees Tahir opened the debate and said it was the responsibility of the government to provide basic amenities to the masses and took pragmatic steps to end gas and power load shedding in the country.
He said only one day gas load shedding was being carried out in Sindh while in Punjab, gas remained suspended for four days a week. He alleged Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were being discriminated against.
Shaikh Aftab said the government had to formulate a concrete strategy to sort out a permanent solution to both gas and electricity load shedding. He said despite an increase in gas and power tariffs, the people were facing load shedding.
Rana Afzal said a parliamentary committee should be formed to sort out the issue. He alleged that officials of gas companies were involved in gas theft and suggested stern punishment for those involved.
Asif said there should be targeted subsidies on gas and electricity and price rationalisation formula should be introduced for low income families.
Criticising discount being offered by CNG stations, he said majority of CNGs were involved in gas theft.
He also demanded diverting gas from CNG to domestic consumers, adding that there should be no discrimination on gas outage to the fertilizer sector.
