KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday took up the pressing issue of gas loadshedding with Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi when the latter called on him here at CM House.

Mr Shah specifically referred to the serious reservations expressed by industrialists about gas closure what they called “gas holiday”.

After having detailed discussion with the federal minister on the issues, the chief minister also raised the issue of non-representation of Sindh in the state-owned oil and gas companies. Mr Shah informed him that after the 18th amendment, the provinces were shareholders in oil, gas and other natural resources with the centre.

The minister assured the chief minister that he would redress the grievances of the industrial sector, while the gas development surcharge matter would be taken up in the meeting of the Council of Common Interests.

Referring to the gas loadshedding issue, the chief minister told Mr Abbasi that a delegation of industrialists had recently met him. They had serious reservations against the gas closure. “The industrial sector is the backbone of our economy and we must redress their grievance by managing gas load,” said Mr Shah, demanding that Sindh must be given share in gas as specified in the constitution.

The chief minister said the provincial government should be given due representation in state-owned oil and gas companies. Meanwhile, the chief minister asked local government representatives to ensure removal of encroachments from their areas. He also directed Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon to issue necessary instructions to district administration to cooperate with representatives of local bodies for the removal of encroachments from roads, streets, drains and bus stops.

He said the district administration, which had been conducting operation with the help of anti-encroachment force against land grabbers and encroachers, must continue to purge the cities and towns from illegal structures.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2016