Siraj wants federal government to end gas load-shedding

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: NWFP Minister Sirajul Haq on Thursday demanded that gas be supplied to the province from Gor Guri and Shakardara gas fields.

“The province’s parliamentary jirga on Wednesday voiced concern over the load-shedding of gas in the province for 45 days running, while gas to the rest of the country was cut only for three days,” Haq told a press conference. The minister also demanded compensation for the losses suffered by the province’s industry on account of the lack of gas.

He said that political parties from all over the province attended the parliamentary jirga and despite their political differences had decided to begin a common struggle for the rights of the province.

Mr Haq, who is also the province’s finance minister, said that a meeting of senators and MNAs from NWFP would be called soon to draw up a common strategy.

“All political parties of the NWFP have decided to set aside their differences and fight together province’s legitimate rights,” he said. He said that the meeting was a step in the right direction and served as an example elsewhere in the country.

He demanded that the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award be announced before the next year budget and warned the government that if it wasn’t, it would have serious repercussions for the country.

He said that former Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali had promised to give NWFP Rs 8 billion as its share in royalty for electricity produced in the province but the government went back on its word. He demanded the government release that sum immediately.

He asked the federal government to declare NWFP an area stricken by natural calamities and to provide funds for relief work. He thanked the Sindh government for promising relief supplies, hoping that Punjab would follow suit.

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