Recent Acute Sui Gas Shortage Across Punjab & Balochistan

Very recently, I have come to know that the hoi polloi all over the country is going to be welcomed with a special New Year gift of hiked electricity and Sui gas right from the first of January, 2015. The suggested hike may be portrayed to be no less than a destructive note for the already poverty-stricken urban and rural population of Pakistan.

The hike may or may not come into effect. But let’s presume if the proposed hike is truly implemented in January 2015, will it be justified on moral grounds or not?

First of all, it is highly important for the people of the country and the Pakistani  expatriates to learn as to what sort of hardships are currently being faced by the people of the most populous province ‘Punjab’ and the largest province of Pakistan in relation to area ‘Balochistan’.

These days, masses across the provinces of Punjab and Balochistan are facing acute shortage of Sui Gas and load shedding of electricity and these problematic issues continue to worsen every new day, instead of getting better or solved.

People are forced to leave their homes for offices and other work places without taking breakfast and tea. All because of the fact that they are deprived of their basic right rather a basic necessity of life that is Sui gas.

People are forced to leave their homes for offices and other work places without having a warm water bath. All due to the fact that Sui gas, a basic necessity is not available to them.

People are forced to live in intense cold weather conditions but there is no instrument like heater or geyser to keep them warm. All due to the unavailability of electricity and Sui gas.

People are forced to buy LPG at expensive rates for domestic purposes just because of the fact there is no Sui gas for them.

People are forced to pay four times more for rickshaws just because of the expensive LPG.

People are unable to protect themselves in extremely cold weather as they do not possess the ability to afford warm clothes for them and their other family members.

People are unable to get a proper substitute for gas as they are forced to buy coal and wet wood for their domestic use at doubled rates.

What is this if not lawlessness? Where are the concerned authorities? Who will claim the responsibility for all these sufferings of the common man?

It is the first and the foremost responsibility of the state to ensure the provision of basic necessities of life to the masses.

Where is gas and electricity? On what grounds are proposals being made for something that is not available to the masses in full?

Very recently, The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has decided to increase gas price by 10 to 64 per cent from January 1, and with effect to this decision Sui Southern (SSGCL) and Sui Northern (SNGPL) will collect Rs60 billion within six months.

On the other hand, the government plans to inflate electricity tariffs by 5.4% and revise gas prices by at least 30% next month in an effort to recover Rs145 billion from consumers. The proposed revision will come as a shock to consumers who were hoping to cash in on the remarkable downslide in international oil prices.

The time has now come for all of us to determine as to where are we heading towards.? ... Stone Age or an epoch of a befuddled backwardness... ?