Refuting reports that there will be gas loadshedding in the country three days a week, Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar said on Friday that the supply of gas to domestic consumers in the upcoming winter season would be three times in a day, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Responding to a call-attention notice raised by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman, the minister said that domestic consumers would be able to receive gas during the time of breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

He informed that considerable progress had been made in talks with Russia for laying a gas pipeline.

The minister dispelled the impression that the gas shortage had anything to do with the LNG. “Supply of gas to domestic consumers is the government’s priority,” he asserted. 

He also differed with the observation made by the PPP senator regarding Sindh’s share in the total gas production, saying the contribution stood at 38 and not 70 per cent.

Apart from that, he also informed that 80 per cent of the gas produced in Balochistan was consumed by the people and industries located in Sindh.

He also made it clear to Sherry that industries in Punjab were being supplied gas at expensive rates. 

Senator Sherry, in her question, claimed that the entire country had usurped the gas produced in Balochistan despite the fact that as per the constitution the province producing a natural resource had the first right over it. 

She said after Balochistan, now it was Sindh’s gas that was catering to the requirements of other provinces, to the exclusion of Sindh. “In Nya Pakistan, you will not be able to cook food,” she remarked sarcastically.

Later, the Senate session was prorogued till 4 PM on Monday. 

Reporter Waqas Azeem