LAHORE, Dec 15: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said Punjab is being treated unfairly with regard to the supply of gas, which is badly affecting the industry and causing job losses.

Talking to businessmen on Wednesday, he said it was a premeditated conspiracy against Punjab and he wanted to make it clear to the elements involved in such negative tactics to mend their ways otherwise they would be exposed.

He said there should be a uniform policy of gas loadshedding and Punjab should be given its rightful share. He said he would immediately contact the prime minister along with a representative delegation of industrialists and traders for resolving the issue.

He said if the unjust treatment to Punjab continued, the conspiracies against the province would be faced and even going to extent of staging a protest demonstration on The Mall with industrialists, traders and labourers would be considered. The CM said Punjab was being treated unfairly regarding gas cuts. He said the gas supply to industries was completely suspended for the last 10 days which had brought this sector to the verge of disaster and badly affected about 15 million people.

He said Petroleum Minister Naveed Qamar, the secretary (petroleum) and his team came to Lahore a short time ago and during the meeting it was decided that there would be loadshedding of two days in all the provinces and a uniform formula would be adopted and this fact is on record.

He said it was also decided that a uniform policy on gas loadshedding would be implemented throughout the country but only Punjab was facing this problem now.

He said Punjab had gas requirement of 600MMCF while it was being provided only 180MMCF gas and the supply from the Sui Northern Pipelines grid had also been stopped. He said the situation was not only damaging the industrial sector but orders of billions of rupees were also being cancelled.

He said Punjab wanted prosperity of all the provinces which was proved by unanimous approval of the NFC Award. He said all the four provinces made sacrifices in this regard but Punjab contributed the largest share.

He said under a pre-planned conspiracy against Punjab, people were being forced to take to the street. He said some units had obtained a stay order from the high court and the provincial government was also being compelled to do so but it would be a negation and weakening of the federation, therefore, he did not agree with the proposal.

The chief minister said he was confident that justice would be done with Punjab on the basis of facts. “Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani is the prime minister of the whole country and if he considers it appropriate the issue can be raised in the Council of Common Interests.”

He said media should play its due role in highlighting this issue just as it was doing with regard to social issues and weaknesses of the governments. “Punjab demands only justice and implementation of a uniform policy on loadshedding of gas throughout the country and it should not be forced to take steps against unjust treatment and violation of its rights. It is not a threat but a demand for the legitimate rights of Punjab.”