By Adeel Alvi
KARACHI: While addressing a press conference, he said that Sindh will not give up its right to a new agreement between provincial and federal governments on the distribution of gas. “Even half of the gas produced in Sindh is not available to the people of the province, which creates a sense of deprivation among people,” he added.
Imtiaz Sheikh said that many complaints of gas shortage were being received from every part of the province. “The problem of gas shortage has been going on for many years, and the PTI government did not care about us,” he said adding that the previous government did not by gas when it was available on cheaper rates in the international market.
He said that the people facing problems because gas was now very expensive in the international market.
The Sindh Energy Minister further said that Sindh has the solution to the energy needs of the country but the province has been continuously neglected.
He said that Sindh is producing 2,100 mmcfd of gas and the gas requirement of Sindh is 1,600 to 1,7000 mmcfd, while only 700 to 800 MMCFD gas is being given to Sindh.
Imtiaz Sheikh said that Sindh should be represented in the federal energy institutions. “Requests have been made for the representation of Sindh in Ogra, Nepra, and other federal institutions,” he said adding that it is hoped that the Prime Minister will consider our submissions and resolve the economic issues of Karachi.
He said that the gas supply to the industry in Karachi forcing the industrialists to buy expensive RLNG.
The energy minister that how the industry will run like this. “The industry will be closed and unemployment will increase,” he apprehended and demanded that rightful share of gas and representation in the KE board should be given to the province.
He said that there was news of suicide of a person fired from Karachi Electric. “If our demands regarding K Electric are not accepted, we will raise this issue in the parliamentary forum as well,” he added.
Imtiaz Shaikh said that Imran Khan had not been interested in the resolution of gas and electricity crisis in the country. “Imran Khan has been trying to push the country into crisis for the past seven months,” he said adding that the PIT chief was neither interested in solving the country’s problems.
He said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, is engaged in efforts to correct the wrong policies of Imran Khan. “Better relations are being established again with friendly countries,” he added
To a question he said that the Imran Khan’s long march and sit-in was a flop show.
