Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Expresses Concerns Over Polio Campaign, Gas Crisis, and Environmental Damage

Quetta:The Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) issued a press release addressing multiple urgent issues affecting Balochistan, including the ongoing polio vaccination campaign, the escalating gas crisis, and environmental damage in Zehriat due to a lack of gas supply.

The party strongly emphasized that while protests are a constitutional right, boycotting the ongoing polio campaign in protest is not only harmful to children by exposing them to the devastating effects of the polio virus, but it also deprives the province of essential international health aid and donor support. The statement reaffirmed the party’s consistent opposition to the privatization of public sector institutions, including healthcare, which they argue results from government incompetence and failure to implement sound policies.

The statement also voiced support for the legitimate demands of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) in Balochistan, emphasizing that the party stands alongside them in opposing privatization and is committed to preserving and improving the province’s health sector. The party urged the YDA to play a constructive role in supporting the ongoing polio campaign in the interest of public health, particularly in light of the deteriorating healthcare system in the province.

**Gas Crisis and Energy Shortage**

The statement highlighted the severe gas crisis that has intensified in southern Pashtunkhwa, particularly in districts such as Quetta, Pishin, and Ziarat, where residents are facing extreme gas shortages and load shedding in the harsh winter season. PkMAP criticized the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) for its failure to address the issue, citing numerous assurances given by the company which have not translated into tangible action.

Despite promises to lay new pipelines and improve gas supply, the statement argued that these measures have not materialized, leaving many areas without gas. PkMAP called for immediate action from SSGC and the federal authorities to resolve the crisis and ensure gas supply to these areas, especially since the province is rich in natural gas resources.

The statement also noted that while the rest of the country continues to receive gas for industrial and power plants, the people of Balochistan are deprived of this resource. It was pointed out that Ziarat, known for its valuable pine forests, is suffering from deforestation as local residents are cutting down trees to use as firewood due to the lack of gas. The party called on the government, forest department, and local communities to work together to preserve the environment and avoid further ecological destruction.

**Impact of High Fuel Prices**

PkMAP also expressed concerns over the high prices of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and other fuels, which are making life difficult for the public. The statement pointed out the contradiction of SSGC charging high prices for gas while residents in certain areas of Balochistan, particularly in the southern districts, continue to face shortages.

**Action Plan**

The Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party warned that if the gas supply situation is not urgently addressed and if the people of southern Pashtunkhwa continue to suffer from inadequate services, the party will be forced to organize protests in all four tehsils of Quetta. The responsibility for any unrest, the party stated, will fall squarely on the shoulders of the government and Sui Southern Gas Company.

In conclusion, the statement emphasized that the people of Balochistan must not be deprived of their rightful resources, and the provincial government must act swiftly to resolve both the gas crisis and the ongoing challenges in the healthcare sector.