As the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Punjab Chief Minister failed to bridge the gap in perceptions of the two sides about the gas management plan, Mr Gilani accepted the suggestion of Mian Shahbaz to convene a meeting of the Council of Common Interests. Punjab feels that the province was being discriminated against in meeting what has become as essential daily need, whether to run power generating units or industrial and business concerns, cook meals in the house, warm the workplace or drive a vehicle converted on gas. The Centre, however, insists that the supply of gas to all the federating units is being made on an equitable basis, and no particular province is being singled out for disfavour. Punjabs complaint of unfair distribution has been persisting for quite some time, with only occasional interludes of partial relief when the cry of injustice has gone up. It would, therefore, have been far better had the Saturdays Gilani-Shahbaz meeting sorted the matter out and further delay avoided because even the shortest possible interruption results in disrupting the routine of life. Mian Shahbaz Sharif has underlined the impact on economy of the cut in the supply of gas. The closing down of industrial units or even reduction in the hours of their operation makes for the cancellation of orders by foreign buyers, since the schedule of exports cannot be kept. It might even mean the loss of customers acquired with great effort. Besides, the less the production time the greater the loss to the economy and the bigger the labour force out of work. While reduced earnings affect life in general, greater unemployment of the workforce causes poverty, with all the attendant evils. Nevertheless, now that the CCI has been assigned to take care of Punjabs complaint, one would hope that it is redressed once for all. The least that could be done, under the circumstances of shortage of the production of gas, is that the distribution is carried out with an eye to the genuine requirements of a particular province, its industrial, agricultural and domestic needs. The solution should be acceptable to all in the wider national interests. Besides, the present situation serves a stark reminder for more serious efforts at exploration of gas reserves in the country and a quick reactivation of the Iran-Pakistan pipeline project. The American pressure against the pipeline should not be accepted, and they should be told in clear terms that since power was a strategic need of Pakistan, the only economically and physically viable option for it is to get the natural gas from Iran. And if the USAs overtures of friendship had any meaning, it would create no hurdle. Pakistan should be open to the pipeline from Turkmenistan as well, but point out that it could be a long while before it materialised because of the disturbed conditions in Afghanistan.