The country is in the midst of a gas crisis, with a shortage of natural gas hitting both industrial and commercial establishments, as well as residential users. The proposal to limit domestic use to mealtimes was not just considered but adopted, and only the realization of how unpopular this would be, made the government roll back the decision. At the same time, it should not be forgotten that the crisis itself was caused by the government’s own lackadaisicalness at the right time.
There has been no extraordinary upsurge in demand, and it was known well in advance that LNG had to be imported to meet the winter’s need. Orders were not placed, and now gas terminals in Karachi are empty, because LNG cargoes were not booked in time. The Federal Energy Minister Hammad Azhar can deny this reality all he wants and stubbornly refuse to accept undeniable facts that prove the same, but with PM’s Finance Advisor Shaukat Tarin stating the same, he now has even less room to somehow wriggle out of this mess of his own creating without taking the blame.
That the Senate standing committee on energy was yet again not attended by Mr Azhar, just another reflection of a ‘it is what it is’ attitude, with little care and importance given to doing his job properly, which includes showing up to such meetings and answering pertinent questions. Petroleum Secretary Dr Arshad however was present an apprised the Senate panel over how the age of piped gas was coming to an end across the world in fact and Pakistan too should shift its winter energy reliance to cylinder for domestic use. One is forced to ask what will become of the much touted Pak-Russia 1,100-km gas pipeline now. Should it not be scrapped along with the idea of LNG and piped gas?
It may not be possible for the government to do anything about gas supplies at the moment, but someone should remember that this is exactly what caused a gas shortage last year. It should not happen next year. Hopefully by then, the issue will be dealt with in the summer, rather than waiting for winter.
