As Pakistan’s gas crisis worsens, the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has suspended supplying gas to non-export sectors in Sindh and Balochistan in order to ensure supply to domestic users.
According to a statement released by the SSGC spokeswoman, the decision was made in accordance with the Ministry of Energy’s approved gas load management plan (Petroleum Division).
The plan places a high premium on domestic consumers.
“The decision to stop supplying non-export businesses was decided to meet the needs of home consumers [particularly in Balochistan, which is experiencing exceptionally cold weather],” the statement said.
The supply to the general industry will be halted until fresh orders are received. However, it said that supply to zero-rated export businesses such as captive power plants and the fertiliser sector would continue.
The statement went on to say that providing more gas supplies to Balochistan is critical for human existence in the province due to the area’s difficult weather conditions throughout the winter season.
“The SSGC anticipates non-export industries’ assistance in maintaining uninterrupted gas supply to local customers,” it added.
Miftah Ismail vs. Hammad Azhar
On Thursday, former finance minister and PML-N leader Miftah Ismail slammed Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar, saying he craves “entertainment” in the form of two separate debates, one between Azhar and Shaukat Tarin and the other between Geo News anchor Shahzeb Khanzada and the energy minister.
Since the PTI administration has failed to deliver adequate gas for the fourth winter in a succession, it should at the very least entertain us,” Ismail said.
Ismail alluded to Hammad Azhar’s challenge to Shahzeb to host a debate on the country’s LNG and gas challenges while referencing the two debates.
In response to Ismail’s tweet, Azhar said that the PML-N leader and the anti-graft watchdog should have a debate because the former had “failed to import even half of the LNG cargoes” that the existing government imports with the “same terminals.”
“There was also a discussion between you and NAB. Given that you failed to import even half of the LNG cargoes that we do with the same terminals. And you burned more than four times as much FO than the PTI government did because you didn’t even use half of the LNG terminals,” Hammad added.
