QUETTA: Members from both treasury and opposition benches in the Balochistan Assembly on Monday expressed concern and anger over persistent low gas pressure and unresolved electricity issues across the province, urging the speaker to summon the officials of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) without delay.

Jamaat-i-Islami Parliamentary Secretary Engineer Majeed Badini raised the issue soon after the session began, stating that gas supply in Jaffarabad, Usta Muhammad and other areas of Nasirabad division was almost non-existent, with frequent unannounced outages. He called for SSGC authorities to be summoned.

PML-N parliamentary leader and provincial minister Mir Saleem Khosa said the gas crisis in Nasirabad division had worsened. Despite repeated assurances from gas authorities, the issue remained unresolved. He added that even the chief of the Quetta Electric Supply Company had been giving assurances regarding electricity problems, but no practical relief had been provided.

Residents of Nasirabad division, he said, used gas only for cooking, yet even that was unavailable. Flood-damaged gas pipelines had also not been repaired, further aggravating the crisis.

Urge Balochistan PA speaker to summon SSGC officials without delay

Deputy Speaker Ghazala Gola warned that irregular gas supply and low pressure could lead to fatal accidents and urged immediate corrective measures.

The speaker ruled that the Assembly Secretary, in consultation with members, would fix a date to summon the SSGC general manager to address the issue.

JUI-F MPA Asghar Ali Tareen said a committee formed two months ago to take up issues — including gas and electricity shortages, high airfares, and alleged harassment of Balochistan residents, particularly Pashtuns, in Karachi — with the prime minister and Sindh authorities had yet to undertake a visit.

PPP parliamentary leader and senior minister Mir Sadiq Umrani told the assembly that he had raised the issue of extortion and harassment of transporters from Jacobabad, Hub and Karachi with the Sindh chief minister, who had assured action. The speaker directed him to again take up the matter with the Sindh government.

PPP’s Asfandyar Kakar said Pishin had no gas supply at all, while electricity transformers were being removed. He alleged that the executive engineer was providing barely an hour of electricity in a month and demanded his immediate replacement.

Law and order

Law and order concerns were also raised during the session, with members expressing alarm over rising incidents of kidnapping for ransom and delays in reopening border crossings.

Mir Rehmat Saleh Baloch of the National Party said that kidnapping for ransom had become a “business” in Makran division. Referring to the abduction of Shah Nawaz, a hospital owner in Panjgur, he said the victim had been in captivity for the past three months, with kidnappers demanding ransom through local phone numbers.

Minister for Development Mir Zahoor Buledi acknowledged that incidents of terrorism, kidnapping and extortion from contractors were occurring frequently in Makran. He said security forces were actively working for the safe recovery of Shah Nawaz.

Mir Zabid Ali Reki of JUI-F said the Mashkeel Zero Point border crossing had remained closed for two years, causing hardship for local residents dependent on cross-border trade and movement.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2026