Although Sindh and Balochistan are larger producers of natural gas in the country, with at least 69 percent and 17 percent, respectively, the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has banned new connections in the two provinces because of the ongoing gas crisis, Pakistan Today has learnt. The SSGC is responsible for ensuring new connections for provision of natural gas to towns and villages of Sindh and Balochistan under the funds allocated for Senators, Members National Assembly (MNAs) and Members Provincial Assemblies (MPAs).
However, imposing a ban on new gas connections in the major gas-producing provinces would force a large number of people to remain deprived of this basic utility. SSGC sources said that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had recently imposed a ban on new development schemes throughout the country, except those districts where gas is produced. “In view of the prevailing situation in the country, the SSGC is not in a position to undertake new development schemes in more towns and villages of Sindh and Balochistan, especially under the loan agreement with the Sindh government,” added the sources.
They said that the gas company has been repeatedly receiving approvals for new schemes pertaining to all districts of Sindh; however, the provincial government should stop approving new schemes because the SSGC could not implement the policy in the present circumstances.
There are thousands of towns and villages where the gas utility is supposed to undertake new gas connections within the constituencies of elected representatives – Senators, MNAs and MPAs – however, the ban on new connections would create an embarrassing situation for the elected representatives to continue with the slogans of ‘Roti, Kapra aur Makaan’.
“What would the people do with roti or makaan without the provision of gas?” asked the sources. They said that so far, the SSGC has undertaken schemes worth Rs 2.9 billion, under the loan agreement with the Sindh government, to provide gas to several towns and villages. Between December 2009 and October 2011, the gas company has completed schemes in 340 towns and villages at a total cost of Rs 1.89 billion by laying 823 kilometres of pipelines of various diameters, they added.
Besides, they further said, work on 95 schemes worth Rs 780 million is expected to be completed by March this year, and the remaining schemes worth Rs 230 million would be executed in the first six months of 2012.
