Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Asim Hussain told the National Assembly there would be greater shortage of gas in January, and that if the opposition supported the government, CNG stations would be closed. He broke this news while answering questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday, at a time when the country was not only facing multiple political crises, but also undergoing electricity outages. Dr Asim told the National Assembly, bluntly, that there was simply no gas. Such an admission, at a time when there is already rioting in the cities over gas shortages, is a sign of crisis. If there is no gas for power stations and Pakistani factories, the shortage of electricity will be compounded by a decrease in the production of fertilizer. The agricultural sector, already in difficulties because of non-functioning electricity-powered tubewells, will be under further pressure.
It appears from these reports that the present government has failed to develop either potential for future resources, or alternate energy plans, which has resulted in the present shortages. The delay in pursuing the Pakistani end of the Iran-Pakistan gasline, is the icing on the cake. If the present government had not treated the gas distribution companies as milch cows to be plundered, and as sources of jobs for the boys, and instead of seeking avenues of corruption and favouritism in this sector, the government had focused on the task of keeping the gas-stoves of the citizens alight, perhaps better results would have been manifest. The shutting down of CNG stations would be particularly painful, for it was the government itself which had encouraged motorists to make the changeover from petrol and diesel. Motorists did so because CNG was less polluting and because gas was cheaper than petrol, something which became even more critical because of rising fuel prices. To shut CNG stations would leave thousands jobless and see vehicles forced off the roads. The closure also will not stop the vehicles falling victim to improperly fitted gas kits, the latest example being five killed on Wednesday when the gas cylinder of a van on its way to Lahore caught fire after hitting a divider. Twelve were burnt to death in Khairpur on Tuesday, and five on Sunday in Faisalabad, both in fires caused by exploding gas cylinders on vehicles.
The government, even now, by speeding up work on the gasline from Iran, and on gas deposits in Pakistan, could help end the crisis for domestic consumers and those using CNG fuelled transport.