Islamabad: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has decided to issue 400,000 new gas connections to its consumers during the remaining duration of the current (fiscal year) FY2019-20, a news source reported. SNGPL Managing Director Mahmood Zia Ahmad revealed the numbers during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Power.
MNA Dr Imran Khattak chaired the meeting during which the participants were were briefed on the workings of the power division and its allied departments. The committee took notice of Karachi’s power woes and asked the secretary power to submit a detailed report on this matter. It also summoned officials of the K-Electric in the next meeting.
He said that the SNGPL had issued the exact same number of gas connections last year. He added that the gap between demand and supply of natural gas was undergoing an increase due to rapid depletion of hydrocarbon reserves, as well as an increase in demand for new connections.
In response, MNA Asad Umer stated that the authority should offer gas connections to all residential consumers because this endeavor would help the SNGPL generate additional revenue.
Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) Chairperson Uzma Adil revealed that the authority was allowing gas companies to limit the number of connections issued in a specified period, while keeping all the regulation aspects in order.
Moreover, the committee members expressed reservations on the issue concerning provision of electricity and gas supplies in their constituencies. To facilitate the measure, they suggested the formation of a Steering Committee on Prime Minister’s Sustainable Development Goals under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Pervez Khattak.
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