Balo­ch­istan's MPAs protested against power, gas shortages
Balochistan Assembly

A member of Balo­chistan in the assembly on Tuesday sought the electricity and gas shortages in Balo­chistan in Ramadan. He requested the officials of Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to be present in the Assembly for explanation.

This issue came to the notice of the deputy speaker of the Assembly, Ghazala Gola, who presided over the meeting. She took the matter very seriously and asked the chief executives of both utilities to come to the Assembly with their respective justifications. The legislator of PPP, Haji Ali Madad Jattak, raised the point of order at the beginning of the meeting, accusing Qesco and SSGC of having previously assured the community that the supply of electricity and gas would be not disturbed in Ramazan.

Read more: Myths and realities about Balochistan’s gas and petroleum production

He further elaborated that the two basic facilities in Sariab are not functioning in their times of need during Sehri and Iftar, yet they are yet to pay their bills. He asked the officials from both organizations to be called for questioning. An immediate investigation into an explosion in which two died and 10 were injured at the gas station was called for.

In a statement he made, Gola said that besides scheduled, gas loadshedding was taking place, but he pointed out some additional kinds that were resulting in dangerous gas leaks. As Gola concluded the session, she called upon Qesco and SSGC to send their officers to explain the situation to the Assembly.

Separately, Mir Zabid Ali Reki of the Jamiat UlemaiIslam stated the Mashkel border post, situated on the border with Iran in Washuk district, has been closed for way too long. He also said that the local population staged a sitin protest in Quetta and negotiations were afoot to reopen the crossing.