Government Not Responsible for Current Power-Gas Crisis: Chief Secretary

The government is not responsible for the power and gas shortages currently affecting the country, the Prime Minister’s Chief Secretary, A B M Abdus Sattar, has said, while defending the administration’s overall performance and outlining the challenges it faces.

Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Sunday, 16 August, the Chief Secretary said the government was taking steps on several fronts to address the ongoing energy crisis. He maintained that the difficulties had not been created by the present administration and argued that the government needed more time to tackle problems that had accumulated over a much longer period.

Responding to questions about the shortages of electricity and gas, Sattar said the government was pursuing a range of measures to ease the situation. He did not, however, provide specific details about the individual initiatives or indicate when consumers could expect the crisis to ease significantly.

The remarks come as energy supply remains a major concern for households, businesses and industries. Gas availability has a direct bearing on electricity generation, industrial production and other economic activities, while disruptions in power supply can affect manufacturing, commerce and essential services. Any prolonged uncertainty in the energy sector can also place additional pressure on investment and business confidence.

The Chief Secretary also criticised the previous government, alleging that it had weakened the public administration over the course of 18 years. According to him, the present administration inherited a range of institutional and economic difficulties and cannot be expected to resolve all of them within only five months.

“Five months is not enough for the government,” he said, stressing that the administration was attempting to overcome the various challenges facing the country.

Sattar identified the economy as the government’s biggest challenge. Within that broader agenda, he said particular attention was being given to the recovery of the banking sector.

The banking industry has emerged as a crucial area for economic stability because weaknesses in financial institutions can affect credit flows, business activity, investment and public confidence. Efforts to restore stability in the sector are therefore closely linked to the government’s wider economic objectives.

The Chief Secretary’s comments also reflected the administration’s broader position that many of the problems confronting the country have deep-rooted causes. The government is seeking to address those problems while continuing to manage immediate pressures, including energy shortages and economic instability.

During the briefing, journalists also asked whether there could be a reshuffle in the Cabinet after the government completes 180 days in office. Sattar declined to comment on the matter.

His remarks therefore left the question of any possible Cabinet changes unanswered, while placing the immediate focus on the government’s stated priorities: tackling the energy crisis, restoring the banking sector and addressing wider economic difficulties.