Syed Ali Shah:
QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly on Friday unanimously approved a resolution tabled by Asghar Ali Tareen, urging the federal government to immediately ensure uninterrupted gas supply across the province amid severe winter conditions. Lawmakers from both treasury and opposition benches sharply criticized the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) for what they described as unannounced outages, excessive billing, and administrative failures.
The resolution stressed that Balochistan, being the largest gas-producing region of Pakistan, should not be subjected to prolonged gas shortages while temperatures continue to drop across Quetta and other districts.
Asghar Ali Tareen, while presenting the resolution, said:
“Our people are facing freezing temperatures while SSGC continues to cut supply without any schedule. This injustice must end immediately.”
Opposition lawmaker Syed Zafar Agha also condemned the crisis, stating:
“Balochistan contributes major resources to the national grid, yet our households are left without gas. The federal government must intervene without delay.”
MPA Ali Madad Jattak expressed frustration over the company’s performance, saying:
“Unannounced load shedding and inflated bills have made life miserable. SSGC should be held accountable for its negligence.”
Lawmakers including Meer Younus Aziz Zehri, demanded strict action, remarking:
“People are burning wood and scrap to survive the cold. The company’s management must explain why Balochistan is treated like a stepchild.”
Other members from both sides of the aisle echoed similar concerns, emphasizing that the province is facing the harshest winter in years and cannot afford further disruptions in gas supply.
The house called upon the federal government to issue clear directives to Sui Southern Gas Company to restore uninterrupted supply, improve billing procedures, and present a transparent load-management plan for the province.
