AG told PHC: KP suffering from unavailability of gas despite surplus production

Humayun Khan

PESHAWAR: A divisional bench of Peshawar High Court (PHC) comprising of Justice Lal Jan Khattak and Justice Abdul Shakoor directed Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) to provide uninterrupted gas to Lucky Cement as per orders issued by honorable PHC in writ petition of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association, on Thursday.

The lawyer for Lucky Cement Malik Ghulam Sabir Advocate argued that extension of interim relief provided by PHC to APTMA on 18 May while SNGPL opposed the petitioner demand stating that it is disconnected.

Although, Advocate General Shumail Butt supported the petitioner Lucky Cement demand on behalf of provincial government and added that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is producing extra gas than demand of the province but we are suffering from unavailability of gas.

The Advocate General argued that unavailability of gas both industries and residents are suffering because from national pol did not fulfilling demands of the province and added that it is neither winter season nor any other crisis.

Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shumail Butt argued that who should people will invest in the province when SNGPL is disconnecting gas. He added that thousands of workers are employed at Lucky Cement and they will be unemployment due to unavailability of gas.

The advocate general argued that PHC judgment of 2011 put liability of uninterrupted gas supply to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Article 158 of constitution regarding right of resources from its point origin.

Additional Attorney General Taufiq Qureshi appeared on behalf of federation while SNPL’s lawyer Yasir Salim argued that gas is disconnect to petitioner but court was informed that connection is existing but gas has been suspended.

The divisional bench of PHC directed SNGPL to provide uninterrupted gas to Lucky Cement and adjourned further hearing while it is worthy to note that honorable court has directed uninterrupted supply of gas to other industries in identical petitions.