Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that gas load shedding in Punjab is a premeditated conspiracy to close down industries and compel the labourers to protest and bring people to streets. He was talking to media-men, after a meeting with the presidents of chambers of commerce and industry, industrialists and chairmen of APTMA, here on Wednesday.
He warned that if the unjust treatment in supply of gas continued, he would stage a protest demonstration on Mall Road with industrialists, traders and labourers to foil conspiracies against Punjab. He said Punjab is being treated unfairly with regard to supply of Sui gas, which is badly affecting industrial sector and depriving labourers and workers of their livelihood." It is a premeditated conspiracy against Punjab and he wanted to make it clear to the elements involved in such negative tactics to mend their ways otherwise they would be exposed", he warned.
Shahbaz said there should be a uniform policy of load shedding of gas and Punjab should be given its rightful share and added, he will immediately contact the Prime Minister alongwith a representative delegation of industrialists and traders for resolving this issue. He hoped that justice would be done to his province.
The Chief Minister said he is a true Pakistani and does not believe in provincialism and National Finance Commission Award is a proof of this national spirit. He said Pakistan has four federating units and their joys and sorrows are common, however, Punjab is being treated unfairly regarding load shedding of gas, which is a premeditated conspiracy to close down industries and compel the labourers to protest.
He said supply of gas to industries is completely suspended for the last ten days, which has brought this sector to the verge of disaster and badly affected about 15 million people associated with this sector. He said Minister of Petroleum Naveed Qamar, Secretary Petroleum and his team came to Lahore a short time ago and during the meeting it was decided that there would be load shedding of two days in all the provinces and a uniform formula will be adopted and this fact is on record.
He said it was also decided that a uniform policy with regard to load shedding of gas will be implemented throughout the country but only Punjab is facing this problem now. He said Punjab has gas requirement of 600 MMCF, while it is being provided only 180 MMCF gas and the supply of gas from Sui Northern Pipelines grid has also been stopped.
He said that this situation is not only damaging the industrial sector but orders of billions of rupees are also being cancelled. Punjab wants prosperity of all the provinces, which is proved by unanimous approval of NFC Award. All the four provinces made sacrifices in this regard but Punjab contributed the largest share.
He said under a pre-planned conspiracy against Punjab, people are being forced to take to the streets. Some units have obtained stay order from the High Court and provincial government is also being compelled to do so but it will be a negation and weakening of the federation, therefore, he does not agree with this proposal. He said he is confident that justice will be done with Punjab on the basis of facts. Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani is the Prime Minister of the whole country and if he considers it appropriate the issue can be raised in the Council of Common Interests.
He said media should play its due role in highlighting this issue just as it is doing with regard to social issue and weaknesses of the governments. He said Punjab demands only justice and implementation of a uniform policy with regard to load shedding of gas throughout the country and it should not be forced to take steps against unjust treatment and violation of its rights. He said it is not a threat but demand for the legitimate rights of Punjab.
Earlier, presidents of chambers of commerce and industries, traders, and chairmen of APTMA during a meeting with the Chief Minister informed that the supply of gas is completely suspended to industrial sector for the last 10 days and it is happening only in Punjab. They said that industrial sector will be completely devastated if immediate measures were not taken to solve this problem. They said that Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif properly highlighted this issue in the past and it is hoped that he will uphold the rights of industrial sector. Member National Assembly Pervaiz Malik, Secretaries of Industries, Trade & Investment and Managing Director Sui Gas were also present on the occasion.
Later talking to Business Recorder, MNA Pervaiz Malik who arranged the industrialists meeting with the Chief Minister said that Pakistan Muslim League (N) does not want to disturb the present political and administrative set up. However, he said it is the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Federal government, which is creating unnecessary hurdles in the smooth functioning of the provincial governments. Malik said PML (N) has no plans to bring any motion of "no confidence" against the Prime Minister Gilani when PPP allies are parting their ways. "We will consider our strategy if some other party moved such a motion against the government", he added.