Balochistan gets 60 mmcfd vs Punjab’s 407 : BHC seeks report on SSGC’s ‘unequal’ supply

QUETTA: The Balochistan High Court (BHC) expressed strong displeasure over the discriminatory supply of gas to the province and ordered Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) and the government of Balochistan to submit a detailed report at the next hearing.

A two-member bench, comprising Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court Justice Rozi Khan Barech and Justice Sardar Ahmed Halimi, issued the directive during the hearing of a constitutional petition filed by Advocate Syed Nazir Ahmed Agha against the Ministry of Petroleum, Government of Pakistan.

The bench reviewed a report submitted by SSGC’s General Manager Muhammad Raheel Malik, which revealed that only 60 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of gas is being supplied to domestic consumers in Balochistan, compared to 407 mmcfd to Punjab and 198 mmcfd to Sindh.

The court declared this situation a clear violation of Article 25 of the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees equal treatment under the law, and termed it a discriminatory practice against the province of Balochistan.

Deeming the SSGC report unsatisfactory, the court ordered that a comprehensive report be submitted at the next hearing. This report must include district- and tehsil-wise details of gas supplied to Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.

The bench also questioned what steps SSGC has taken to ensure gas supply to every village and tehsil in Balochistan.

The Additional Advocate General requested an exemption for the Chief Secretary of Balochistan from appearing due to his participation in an Apex Committee meeting, which the court accepted.

The court further directed that the Chief Secretary, who is also a nominated member of the SSGC Board of Directors, must inform the court at the next hearing about any progress made with the federal government regarding Article 158 of the Constitution, which gives gas-producing provinces priority in supply.

The bench observed that the report submitted by the SSGC GM clearly demonstrates that the federal government and SSGC have violated Article 158, resulting in a breach of the fundamental rights of the people of Balochistan.

Given the severity of the upcoming winter, the court instructed the SSGC GM in Quetta to urgently contact the Karachi head office and take immediate steps to increase gas pressure in Quetta city to alleviate public hardship.

Copies of the court order were directed to be sent to the Advocate General, Deputy Attorney General, Chief Secretary of Balochistan, PS to Chief Secretary, and Senior Manager of SSGC. The next hearing is scheduled for November 4, 2025.