News Desk

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) spokesperson Shazia Marri has condemned the federal government’s attempt to implement the Weighted Average Cost of Gas (WACOG) on gas prices. In a statement, Marri urged the government to act in the national interest instead of pursuing personal gains, stating that the burden of expensive imported LNG will not be passed onto the public.

She criticized the allocation of natural gas to captive power plants at the expense of domestic consumers, leaving households without gas. Marri called on the Prime Minister to question the Federal Energy Minister about his actions and the agenda he is following.

Marri highlighted that the issue was raised in the National Assembly, but the Energy Minister failed to satisfy the House. She stressed that no decision should bypass the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and warned that ignoring the gravity of the matter would only increase public hardship.

Referring to the ongoing gas crisis, Marri pointed out that even during the winter season, domestic consumers are struggling with gas shortages. She expressed concern that in the 10 months of the PML-N government, no CCI meeting has been convened, despite a constitutional obligation to hold one every 90 days.

“The federal government is consistently violating the Constitution by not convening CCI meetings,” Marri stated, adding that this deprives provinces of their constitutional right to decision-making. She further accused the government of violating Article 158 of the Constitution, which mandates prioritizing local gas needs in areas where it is extracted.

Marri also questioned the rationale behind purchasing surplus LNG, calling for transparency on why additional LNG was bought and why it is now in excess. She urged the government to stop undermining the Constitution and demanded urgent action to address the energy crisis and alleviate the public’s suffering.