Power Minister Omar Ayub blames Sindh govt for gas shortage in province.

ISLAMABAD -- Power Minister Omar Ayub has alleged that the ongoing gas shortage in Sindh is due to the provincial government's failure to provide a route for new gas pipelines in the province.

He said that the provincial government "is oppressing the people of Sindh by not providing a right of way" to the federal government.

Ayub said the federal government will lay new pipelines if the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) is allowed to do so by local authorities.

The minister also said that the provincial government had declined federal government's offer to provide LNG under Article 158 of the Constitution.

Provincial minister for information Saeed Ghani rejected Ayub's allegation, saying that the gas pipelines mentioned by the power minister were not discussed with the Sindh government.

Ghani said that the federal government's incompetency has ruined the people's lives.

The gas crisis has made life difficult for Pakistanis who were already finding it difficult to brave cold temperatures during the winter season.

Commercial and industrial users have also been severely affected by the shortage.

'We have started laying off daily wagers...