Provincial Minister for Energy, Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh, has urged the Prime Minister Imran Khan to resolve Sindh's concerns over gas distribution on priority basis. "Share of Sindh in Pakistan's gas production is 70 percent but the province is not being given its ruthful share in accordance with the article 152 of the Constitution," he said, speaking at a meeting of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI).
The Minister lamented that there is no representation of Sindh in OGRA, CPPA and NDTC while only one member represents the province in NEPRA. He said that 60 proposed power projects by Sindh government were pending but federal government has not approved them for years.
Shaikh said that a project of 33MW would be inaugurated in January next year. He said Thar is rich in natural energy resources and if federal government would give due attention and resolve provincial concerns regarding energy sector, Pakistan could easily become independent in its energy needs.
"Wind energy corridor has potential of generating more than 50,000MW electricity and Sindh government is trying its best to actualize the potential," he said. The Minister also invited business community for investments in energy sector especially in Thar and wind corridor.
Former president of FPCCI, S.M Muneer, said that it is a matter of concern that despite stable law and order situation, not a single large industry established in Sindh for a decade. He said Sindh has potential to flourish as an industrial backbone of the country. "Zero-rate facility shouldn't confine to only five sectors. Rice, seafood, IT, fruits and vegetable and agro industries also need to be considered for this facility," KATI president Danish Khan suggested.
He urged the federal government to provide due share of gas to Sindh. He said industry cannot afford gas load shedding. He was of the view that higher energy tariffs were one of the major reasons behind declining exports.
Chairman and CEO KITE Zubair Chhaya also urged the minister to facilitate business sector for investment opportunities in energy sector. Senior vice president Farazur Rehman, vice president Maheen Salman, former presidents of KATI Gulzar Feroze, Farhanur Rehman, Akbar Farooqi, Ehteshamuddin and other members attended the meeting.
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