It is the goal of the present government to electrify the maximum number of villages across Sindh with the facility of Sui gas so as to bring those villages on track of facilities for progress and development.
This was stated by Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah at the CM House, where he presided over a high-level meeting regarding the progress of Sui gas village electricity schemes across the province.
The CM said that the population residing in villages have been neglected as far as basic facilities are concerned, but the present government of the Pakistan People’s Party, under the party manifesto, is making efforts to provide gas, electricity, roads, health, education and other facilities in the neglected areas.
Planning & Development (P&D) Additional Chief Secretary Israr Malik gave a detailed briefing regarding the schemes of village electrification and provision of gas in the villages of the province.
According to progress between financial years 2007-08 and 2011-12, 4,220 schemes of village electrification, under the directives of the CM, were processed, of which 3,153 schemes of village electrification have been completed at the cost of Rs 3.15 billion. The participants of the meeting were informed that the total cost of 4,220 schemes is Rs 4.5 billion.
They were further informed that 257 schemes were not feasible, as the same were technically unfit, whereas the work on other schemes is being carried out.
Regarding the provision of gas to villages across the province, the participants were informed that under the directives of the CM’s Secretariat, 803 schemes of gas provision of villages were approved.
They were also informed that out of 803 villages, 338 schemes of village gasification have been completed and work is being carried out on 95 schemes, whereas work would start in 370 villages for provision of gas facility.
According to the break-up, during the year 2008-09, 136 schemes of village gasification were initiated, for which Rs 900 million were released, whereas the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) provided gas in 121 villages out of 136 villages at the cost of Rs 836 million.
The meeting participants were informed that in the year 2009-10, the CM’s Secretariat issued directives for 308 villages, out of which work of gas provision has been completed in 206 villages and it is being carried out in 12 villages, whereas work is going to start on the remaining 90 schemes of village gasification, for which funds are available.
The participants were told that in the year 2010-11, only 11 villages were gasified and work is going on in 72 villages, whereas work on 276 villages would be started soon.
The managing director (MD) of the SSGC informed the participants that there are a total of 1,200 schemes of village gasification for Sindh, which include 600 village schemes under the prime minister’s directives and 338 villages are being gasified under the chief CM’s funding.
The CM stressed upon the SSGC MD to complete the remaining wok on the approved gasification schemes early so that the people of those approved villages are provided the facility of gas.
The meeting was also attended by Power Secretary Rabia Javeri Agha, CM’s Principal Secretary Agha Jan Akhtar, Southern Electric Power Company chief executive officer, CM’s Special Secretary Hafeezullah Abbasi, P&D Special Secretary Dr Noor and Khairpur Deputy Commissioner Abbas Baloch.