Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has directed the federal petroleum and natural resources ministry, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Sui Southern Gas Company and others to come up with their respective replies to a petition against their failure to supply gas to the province at par with its demand.

Headed by Justice Munib Akhtar a two-judge bench adjourned the hearing after federal law officer sought time to file comments of the official respondents.

Syed Noor Ali, the chairman of the district council Umerkot, petitioned the high court, contending that the province, having huge reserves of natural resources including oil and natural gas, is suffering immensely because of shortage of gas.

The province produced more than 70 percent of total gas production in the whole country and it was also fact that it produced gas in excess of its consumption as it consumes less than 40 percent, yet it’s people suffer on account of shortage of gas supply, be that domestic, commercial consumers, fertilizers or industrial sector, power plants or general industrial and CNG sectors, the petitioner added.

Besides, they suffer power outages of almost 16 hours amid soaring temperatures.

Syed submitted that the districts which suffered direct consequences of the failure of the federal government and the gas utility to meet gas demand of the province included Matiari, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Benazirabad, Naushahro Feroze, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Thatta, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Tharparkar.

He argued that the act of the federal authorities to curtail gas supply to the province was violation of the constitutional guarantees afforded to the people and residents of the province under Article 158 of the Constitution.

The courts had also laid dictums in the light of Article 158 that the province which produces natural gas shall have priority and precedence over other parts of the country in meetings its requirements, the petitioner contended.

He pleaded the judges to direct the official respondents to allocate gas supply to the province at par with its demand.

Notice issued on Karachi mayor’s plea:

Meanwhile, another bench has issued notices to Sindh chief secretary and other official respondents on a petition seeking devolution of Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) from the Sindh government to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).

City Mayor Waseem Akhtar petitioned high court, submitting that the board was created under Sindh Solid Waste Management Board Act, 2014 with functions to the needs of general public.

He quoted the Supreme Court’s order in which it had ordered the devolution of the board to local bodies under the rules of business in view of its below par performance.

The petitioner maintained that despite the directives of the apex court steps were not being taken to transfer the SSWMB to the elected local representatives.

He pleaded to the judges to direct the authorities concerned to transfer all the assets falling under the umbrella of the Solid Waste Management Board Act, 2014 to the local government institutions.

The court was further requested to direct the respondents to give complete details of all the funds, which they had received for the purpose of solid waste management, how the same were spent, and to appoint a reputable auditor to find the facts.