President, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI), Afan Aziz, while commenting on recent gas crisis said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province faced enormous stagnation in gas and electric consumption in the last two decades whereas consumption were quadrupling in big provinces, saying that the KP share kept dwindling in the national consumption pie.
He further said that those demanding equal distribution of gas amongst provinces for not demanding equal distribution of development in the country, when great disparities were being created in the allocation of resources within the country. "Where were these voices when disparity was being created and all growth in the country was being concentrated in Punjab and Sindh", he questioned.
He asked that when GDP growth was being trumpeted as a landmark, why were those elements quiet when GDP growth in KPK was stagnant, why were they quiet on deprivation of their brothers in other provinces. "Why were they quiet when infrastructure was being improved in other provinces and was being damaged in our province, why did they not come on the streets when we were bleeding to death, he asserted.
"We still believe in federation and consider them our brothers, but why don't people look at our figures, which show that industrial consumption of gas stood in KPK at 40 mmcfd two decades ago and still stands at 40 mmcfd today, where as in Punjab it grew from 300 to 1100 mmcfd, he maintained. He asked these elements to consider investing in the underdeveloped province. He commented that the concept of equitable distribution shall not be used when it suits someone, rather it is a broader principle, which applies to all resources of the economy.
He also pointed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa being 13 percent of total population of the province currently only gets about 1.5 percent of total lending in the country. Aziz also criticised the economic managers for not making alternative arrangements despite the fact the gas shortage was imminent adding it is a sore point every winter season which is getting worse with every passing year.
Condemning the prevailing gas shortage and huge hike in gas prices, he said that the fertiliser mafia launched mega projects in other provinces, particularly in Punjab out of which some projects consumed gas that was more than 50 percent of industrial, commercial and residential consumption of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Lashing out at policymakers, he asked, why the mafia was given permission to launch such projects when the gas shortage was in sight. He said why the CNG licenses were issued in large numbers when the gas provision was on the decline. SCCI chief said some elements did not want to see industrial growth in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and want to see an end to a few projects that exist in the province.
Aziz said the Punjab industrial gas consumption was 20 times more than the industrial consumption of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while the Punjab population was four times bigger than the KP adding there is huge economic disparity between the two neighbouring provinces.
He said that KP was the most backward province that rendered tremendous sacrifices for the survival of the country. He said KP had been at war for the past 30 years, causing investment, industrial and banking plight and increase in poverty much more than other areas of the country. He further added that the ongoing KP situation has also led to economic and social collapse and promotion of terrorism resulting in unemployment, poor economy lack of education and health facilities and lifestyle. The province played in addition to providing cheaper electricity is also playing a great role in providing surplus gas to the whole country at cheaper rate, he maintained.