ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Petroleum has imposed a nationwide ban on new gas connections benefiting both domestic and commercial consumers.
Sources revealed that such decisions have been taken due to the need to optimize the utilization of the country’s energy resources amidst the growing demand and shortage of supply.
Such a ban is supposed to take place all over Pakistan. It follows an earlier decision by the government to allow the establishment of new gas connections, which have now come to a standstill.
It is feared that many households and businesses have already begun making arrangements for new gas connections, and this decision would greatly affect them.
Federal govt directs KP not to allow gas to CNG stations
Earlier, Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik made it clear in blunt terms that the country is currently going through a severe gas shortage and directs federal government not to allow gas to CNG stations.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Advisor Muzammil Aslam telephonically contacted Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik and registered a strong protest against the continuous closure of CNG stations in the province. Muzammil Aslam’s position was that around 600 CNG stations have been closed in the province for more than a month, due to which not only the transport system is in disarray but also millions of daily wage earners including rickshaw and taxi drivers are facing a severe economic crisis. He demanded that the gas supply be restored immediately as it is a matter of fundamental rights of the people.
According to the federal government, due to the shortage of gas in the system, priority is being given to domestic consumers and export industries, which it is not possible to supply gas to the CNG sector at present. The federal minister has made this restoration conditional on the arrival of a new consignment of LNG and improvement in gas availability.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the All Pakistan CNG Association (KP Zone) have rejected the federal government’s response, calling it a violation of Article 158 of the Constitution. The provincial government says that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is producing gas far more than its requirement (about 500 MMCFD), while its total requirement, including the CNG sector, is only 120 MMCFD. Despite this, it is being deprived of the province’s own resources.
As a result of this deadlock, gas supply has not been restored despite clear orders from the Peshawar High Court. The CNG Association has warned that if gas supply is not restored in the next two days, they will launch a protest movement across the province and highways will be blocked, which will include transporters and the general public. This refusal by the federation has further intensified the political and constitutional confrontation between the provincial and federal governments.
