QUETTA: Nawabzada Jamal Raisani, a Member of the National Assembly from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has launched a fierce criticism against the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), labeling the recent data on gas meter tampering in Balochistan as a narrative that perpetuates “decades of injustice” against the province.
The strong reaction came after SSGC revealed that 80 percent of gas meters in the region were tampered with. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Raisani contested this claim, arguing that the responsibility for the faulty metering system lies not only with users but also with the SSGC itself for its failure to provide and maintain a reliable infrastructure.
He highlighted a severe gas shortage, stating that Quetta receives only 90 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) against a required supply of 180 MMCFD, calling this shortfall “evidence of institutional incompetence.”
Raisani condemned the repeated framing of Balochistan’s gas crisis around theft, calling it a “complete injustice.” He posed a poignant question to the authorities, “How long will the people of Balochistan burn wood? Will we survive?” The parliamentarian warned that if the relevant institutions do not change their approach, the public will be forced to take to the streets in protest.
He identified the root causes of the crisis as inadequate supply, poor management, and a decaying infrastructure that has been neglected for years. Emphasizing that no improvement is possible without addressing these core issues, Nawabzada Jamal Raisani announced that he would raise this critical matter with full force in the upcoming parliamentary session.
Meanwhile in a strong show of confidence, leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Balochistan have announced the party will contest all 642 wards and union councils in the upcoming Quetta local government elections, predicting that the future Mayor and Town Chairmen will be from their party.
The announcement was made during a press conference at the Quetta Press Club by key figures including Naseem-ur-Rehman Khan Mulakhel, the chairman of the local government election committee.
