High Court orders uninterrupted gas supply to Balochistan
News Desk :
The Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Saturday ordered the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to ensure proper supply to all parts of the province. A division bench of the BHC comprising Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Mr. Justice Abdul Hameed Baloch passed this order on a constitutional petition about the low gas pressure issue. The court had taken up the matter and called the Chief Secretary (CS) Balochistan and the General Manager (GM) SSGC in person for briefing.
BHC’s order has come after reports of low and no gas pressure in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan in prevailing chilly weather. Citizens have been staging protest demonstrations against the company against low gas pressure and gas load shedding. The court had also taken notice of heavy bills in the province by SSGC and the sufferings of poor consumers.
Senior lawyers Munir Kakar Advocate and Naseebullah Tareen Advocate had filed a constitutional petition on the part of citizens regarding the gas pressure issue.
Gas supply increased currently: GM Gas told the court
Madani Siddiqui, the General Manager (GM) SSGC in his report informed the court that gas supply has been increased and hopefully it would be addressed. He however noted that low gas pressure was the result of illegal installations of compressors by consumers. The company has disconnected illegal compressors in various parts of the city.
The bench noted that it was an illegal act and that GM should seek the support of local administration to disconnect compressors.
The court also directed GM gas to share the progress report with the chief secretary Balochistan to address the issue of gas pressure. The CS directed to coordinate the federal secretary of petroleum and other high ups to address the issue once and for all. The court asked the CS to contact the federal government regarding modifying the existing heavy bills.
The bench directed that steps should be taken to address the issue keeping in view harsh weather conditions and the financial status of the consumers who fall within the middle and low-middle class.
High Court orders uninterrupted gas supply to Balochistan
