- A crisis created by federal government’s own negligence
The PTI government is facing the first major crisis of its tenure. The ongoing gas shortages throughout Sind have caused widespread disturbance in the lives of the people. The prime minister has ordered the formation of an investigation committee to find the reasons behind the shortages and pinpoint those who failed to take timely action. Meanwhile he has dissolved the boards of directors’ of both the Sui Southern and Sui Northern gas companies and ordered inquiry against their MDs. Imran Khan is mistaken if he believes the measure would lessen public resentment.
Today is the seventh day of closure of CNG stations all over the province. All transport whether urban or intercity plying on gas has come to a halt. The attendance in educational institutions and offices has come down. The shortage has affected industry as well as power production. It has led to a decline in production and timely delivery of products to foreign markets evoking strong reaction from business community’s professional orgnisations. Transport owners too have suffered because of it. Households in many localities in Karachi find it difficult to run their kitchens due to low gas pressures.
The crisis can have implications for the federation. Under Article 158, people of Sindh have the first right over gas as the province is producing 70 percent of it. As things stand Sindh has been made to suffer the worst. It was natural for the PPP government in Sindh to react strongly to the unending shortages and demand immediate restoration of gas supply. The PTI has worked hard to emerge as a popular party in Sindh. This makes it all the more necessary for the prime minister to urgently undertake an exercise in damage control and ensure that the issue does not lead to a confrontation between the province and the federation. For this he has to hold consultation with the Sindh CM to reassure the affected population and provincial government that he is doing all that is required to resolve the issue. A standoffish attitude suits neither the country nor the PTI.