PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has issued an urgent warning to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, demanding immediate restoration of gas supply to the province’s CNG sector and cautioning that the decision could trigger widespread protests and a serious law and order crisis.

In a strongly worded letter sent on Monday, Afridi said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produces around 494 million cubic feet per day of natural gas while consuming only about 120 MMCFD, making the province one of the country’s largest gas surplus regions. He said despite this surplus, the federal government diverted 36 to 40 MMCFD previously allocated to CNG stations to the fertiliser industry.

The chief minister said the decision directly violates Article 158 of the Constitution, which grants provinces the first right to use natural gas produced within their own territories. He also cited rulings of the Peshawar High Court, which held that closure of CNG stations undermines lawful business activities protected under Article 18 and threatens the livelihoods of thousands of workers.

Afridi stressed that restoring gas to the CNG sector is vital because public transport across the province relies heavily on compressed natural gas. He said uninterrupted supply would help citizens avoid soaring petrol costs and prevent further increases in transport fares.

The shutdown of CNG stations has already disrupted school transport and public commuting across Peshawar and other districts. Many van and bus operators have suspended services, while those using petrol have sharply increased fares, placing additional financial pressure on families and daily wage earners.

Afridi urged the prime minister to immediately reverse the curtailment order or convene an emergency meeting of the Council of Common Interest. He warned that denying Khyber Pakhtunkhwa its constitutional gas rights could inflame public anger and deepen tensions between the provincial and federal governments.