Gas load shedding for Industrialists in Sindh: Qaim Ali Shah shows serious reservations over federal govt’s decision

Karachi, June 10, 2015 (PPI-OT): The Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah has expressed his serious reservations over the federal government’s decision for imposing load shedding in Gas supply for industrialists in Sindh and has contacted the federal secretary for Petroleum and Managing Director SSGC, asked them not to implement the load shedding, which they have scheduled from tomorrow.

The Chief Minister Sindh said that he will take up this matter with the Prime Minister of Pakistan as it was our constitutional right. The Chief Minister Sindh while talking to the delegation of Industrialists, who called on him at CM House today to protest against the federal government’s decision of load shedding in Gas supply in Sindh, said that Sindh was producing 73 percent of total Gas production of the country, and it has constitutionally right to meet its requirements first.

He said that he has expressed his same reservations to federal minister for Petroleum Productions Mr. Shahid Khakan Abbasi who has assured for not stopping the Gas of Sindh, however he said that since Mr. Abbasi is out of country, the officers has planned to stop the gas of Sindh, which will not only create the problems of Industrial stoppage, unemployment of 1.5 million labour that catering to the needs of 6 million families, less investment and production but also to create law and order situation in Karachi. He asked the Federal Secretary for Petroleum not to stop the supply of Gas to Sindh but to come in Sindh, talk with us and industrialists to resolve their problems.

The Industrialist’s delegation which was led by Mr. Siraj Qasim Teli and Mr. Muhammad Zubair Motiwala said that they will go on strike if supply of Gas is stopped for their industries. They were of the view that Punjab was producing only 5 percent of total gas production of the country but it was utilizing 49 percent against the Sindh Gas supply share of 29 percent despite of its 73 percent production.

They demanded that since Sindh is producing maximum 73 percent of total gas production, as such first of all the needs of industrialists in Sindh be fulfilled. The Sindh Minister for Industries Mr. Mohammad Ali Malkani and others were present in the meeting.

For more information, contact:
Mr. Allah Bachayo Memon
Press Secretary
Chief Minister House
Tel: +92-21-99202019
Cell: +92-300-3524057 (Ext: 336)