Balochistan's Chief Minister, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, has issued a stern warning to gas utility companies over crippling shortages and low pressure plaguing the province during a severe cold spell. The Chief Minister chaired a high-level meeting with officials from Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), where he expressed strong anger over the public's suffering.
Public Facing Unacceptable Hardship
Bugti stated that citizens across Balochistan are facing serious hardship due to the reduced gas supply. He highlighted that even in Sui, the very region where gas is produced, residents lack reliable access. "It is unfortunate that Sui, where gas is produced, is itself facing gas problems. Even today, women in Sui cook bread on firewood," the Chief Minister lamented. He added that people in Quetta and other cold regions are "freezing" due to the lack of supply, a situation he termed completely unacceptable.
Directives for Immediate Action
The meeting, also attended by members of the Balochistan Assembly who raised complaints from their constituencies, focused on immediate solutions. CM Bugti directed PPL and SSGC officials to take urgent steps to alleviate public suffering, particularly in the affected areas of Quetta, Ziarat, Sui, and Qalat. He warned that no excuses for inaction would be tolerated and stressed that the crisis must be resolved at all costs.
Broader Concerns and Planned Escalation
Beyond the immediate supply issues, Bugti voiced concern over the rising number of gas-related accidents and instructed authorities to strengthen preventive measures. He also identified a systemic problem, pointing to the limited gas allocation for Balochistan by the Federal Ministry of Energy as a serious issue. To address this, he announced that a formal letter detailing the crisis would be written to the Prime Minister of Pakistan to apprise him of the dire situation. "The public is facing severe hardship. We cannot remain silent," Bugti asserted, emphasizing the need for a swift and permanent resolution to Balochistan's chronic gas woes.
