KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the province produces 2,800 mmcfd gas out of which more than 1000 mmcfd is diverted to other provinces, leading to load shedding in the industrial areas of the province. He declared the practice unconstitutional and said it was causing heavy financial losses to the people of the province. The CM stated this on Thursday while presiding over a preparatory meeting for Council of Common Interest (CCI) meeting to be held in Islamabad on Friday. The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to CM on Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Nawab Taimur Talpur, Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, Sindh Advocate General Zamir Ghumro, Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Energy Secretary Agha Wasif, Finance Secretary Hassan Naqvi, Secretary U&B Mohammad Hussain Syed, Labour Secretary Rasheed Solangi and others. Giving a constitutional reference, Murad Ali Shah said that article 158 of the constitution recognises precedence and first right of utilisation of gas by the gas producing province. But, “this right of our people has been denied,” he said and added that the province of Sindh produces 2800 mmcfd gas which should be used for generation of electricity, for domestic and industrial purposes by the people of the province, but out of 2800 mmcfd, more than 1000 mmcfd of gas is given to other provinces. He said that there were thousands of villages in Sindh which did not have gas or electricity. “If 1000 mmcfd gas of Sindh is not given to other provinces, Sindh can produce 5000MW electricity from it at a rate of Rs 8 per unit against Rs15 per unit which we are charged,” he said. Murad Ali Shah said that this causes a loss of billions to the province. He said the people of Sindh demand implementation of article 158 in its true letter and spirit. He added that the people of Sindh demand federal government to let it use its gas; and for that purpose a resolution would be presented in Sindh Assembly. He said that natural gas produced from all new discoveries and old wellheads located in a province should be allocated to respective province. The province(s) with deficient gas production should meet their requirement by importing gas, RLNG, LPG etc. He urged the federal government to announce province specific Gas Allocation and Management Policy (GA&MP). The provincial government has prepared a draft Sindh GA&MP, 2017. Under the draft policy, first priority would be given to domestic affairs, second to defence & strategic installations, third to fertiliser, KE power plants, IPP, GENCO and power plants Fourth priority has been given to housing industry, general industry, CNG. Fifth priority to KE power plants other than the ones listed in third priority and six priority has been given to cement. Discussing national water policy, the CM said that he would accept the new policy if observations of the provincial government were incorporated. He said that his observations include to secure katha areas and economy thereof; to preserve delta areas by providing sufficient supplies regularly; to make rain water disposal arrangement in plains where it cannot be disposed of or diverted in the river and to ensure equity of water distribution between head and tail reaches and to rationalise water allocations between various canal commands shall be rationalised without harming the water accord allocation. Murad Ali Shah also said that the provinces are responsible for routine repair and maintenance of flood protection dukes, flood fighting and drainage; however in case of major catastrophes like the 2010 floods, the funds should be provided by the federal government. He added that national surface drainage shall be developed through consultation among the provinces for handling of saline and toxic effluent but making the province, generating such effluent, responsible for treating it before allowing it to flow into the other provinces. Talking about provincial Higher Education Commission (HEC), the chief minister said that the provincial government was of the view that HEC Ordinance, 2002 may be amended and its application be made limited to federal territory only. The federal Higher Education Division should be devolved and its functions, which now are the domain of the Sindh HEC, including regulations, planning and policy of higher education institutions and their functions and assets be transferred to the provincial HECs, he said. Published in Daily Times, November 24th 2017.