CM Afridi asks PM to intervene in KP CNG crisis, warns of possible 'widespread agitation'

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday asked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to step in over the ongoing compressed natural gas (CNG) crisis in the province, warning that the continued suspension of supply could trigger widespread agitation and create a law and order challenge.

The province has been facing a CNG shortage since April, with several filling stations remaining closed and millions of people struggling to access affordable fuel. The situation has also affected economic activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a letter sent to the prime minister on Monday, the chief minister drew attention to what he described as the Petroleum Division’s decision to cut gas supply to the CNG sector in the province. According to the letter, the curtailment was reportedly linked to disruptions in liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply and system constraints being faced by Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL).

Afridi said that while SNGPL was operating under supply constraints and had to manage line pack pressures, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa required separate consideration. He stated in the letter that the province had a substantial gas surplus. "As per available data, our province produces approximately 494mmcfd of natural gas while average consumption remains around 120mmcfd," he said.

The chief minister further wrote that the CNG sector in KP required around 36-40mmcfd of gas, which, he said, had been diverted to the fertiliser sector. "The decision of curtailing gas [supply] to the CNG sector in KP has set the stage for widespread agitation and is posing a serious threat to the law and order situation in the province," Afridi warned.

Referring to Article 158 of the Constitution, Afridi said the province where a natural gas wellhead is located has the first right to use the gas found in its territory.

He also cited a Peshawar High Court ruling dated January 15, 2022, saying it had held that stopping CNG stations from operating under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code was not justified because it restricted lawful business protected under Article 18 of the Constitution and affected thousands of workers. He said the high court had granted interim relief to the CNG sector in the province.

The chief minister said that given the transport sector’s heavy reliance on CNG, restoring 36-40mmcfd of gas supply to the sector in KP was essential to avoid the use of costly fuel and to prevent likely law and order problems.

"It is therefore earnestly desired that your honour intervenes in the matter and issues directions to the Petroleum Division to withdraw the decision of curtailment of gas to the CNG sector in KP or call a meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) at the earliest and put it on the agenda of the CCI," he added.

He appealed to the prime minister to either direct the Petroleum Division to reverse the curtailment decision or convene a meeting of the Council of Common Interest at the earliest to take up the issue.