KARACHI, October 22 2024: Sindh Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said that Sindh is currently the largest gas-producing province with a total production of 1800 mmcfd to 2000 mmcfd (MMCFD) in the country. 65% of the total gas production. Currently, 900 mmcfd gas is being supplied to Sindh while the requirement is 1600 mmcfd gas.
Under Article 158 of the Constitution, the first right of the province from which gas is extracted is the right of the person who is not being implemented and the people of Sindh province are facing a shortage of gas. He expressed these views today on the occasion of presiding over a high-level meeting of the Directorate of Oil and Gas.
Secretary Energy Mossadiq Ahmad Khan, Chairman District Council Sukkur Syed Kamil Haider Shah, Director Oil and Gas Khadim Hussain and Aamir Mujbata were also present on this occasion. Minister Energy was told in the meeting that according to Article 172(3) of the Constitution, mineral oil and natural gas should be distributed equally between the federation and the provinces and under the same article, there should be representation of Sindh in the board of directors of as many companies related to oil and gas organized by the federation as PSO, PPL, OGDCL, OGRA, Sui Southern Gas etc.
Despite repeated efforts, representatives of Sindh have not been included. It was further informed in the meeting that the interim government allowed the sale of 35% of natural gas to a third party and approved the TIGHT gas policy 2024, which was not their authority.
Apart from this, the federal government is going to introduce a new LNG policy on which the Sindh government has serious concerns. Minister Energy said on this occasion that the representation of Sindh should be included in the board of directors of oil and gas-related companies under the federation.
He will talk to the federal government for the implementation of Article 158 and Article 172(3) of the Constitution and demand that it be implemented as soon as possible, which is in the interests of the provinces and the people. Minister Energy directed that steps should be taken on a solid basis to increase the revenue in the oil and gas sector. He added that consumers of Sindh province are our priority regarding gas.
