Peshawar: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has directed the federal government to release funds to the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited for a project geared towards supplying gas to Mardan, a news source reported. The government has been given a deadline of one month for the release of funds.
Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Abdul Shakoor issued the orders to this effect, and disposed of a petition. The latter, made by Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Jamshed Khan Mohmand, had challenged the orders to suspend work on the gas supply project launched during the tenure of the previous government.
The PHC observed during the hearing that the release of funds would help address the sense of discrimination prevalent among the residents of the constituency.
The government, in response to the petition, had maintained that it had transferred PKR 142.882 million to the SNGPL’s assignment account for the gas project. Of this figure, PKR 115.28 million had been spent on the development of a 76-km gas pipeline network. The remaining funds had lapsed due to remaining unutilised–as of June 30, 2018.
The court has ordered for the funds to be disbursed again.
