The parliamentary committee recommended enhancement of new domestic gas connections up to one million per year enabling the gas distribution companies to provide gas connection to the consumers. The committee also recommended enhancement of domestic connections to new localities by 100 connections. The committee recommended enhancement of new gas connections in wake of huge number of pendency with the gas distribution companies. The committee was apprised that the Ogra had allowed 0.5 million new domestic gas connections to the gas distribution companies per year, however, due to huge number of pendency, the companies were unable to meet the demand.
The committee was further apprised that 200 connections were allowed to be provided to new localities. The representatives of Ogra informed the committee that the regulatory authority had no objection on the increase as recommended by the committee in case of the gas companies had the capacity to carry out the task. The official of the PSO while briefing the committee said that they are facing difficulties in the recoveries of arrears from various government organisations. Power sector is defaulter of Rs117 billion while PIA owes 13 billion.
Similarly, it was informed that the loans from banks were increased by Rs35 billion which is a matter of serious concern. The government has paid only Rs 37 billion from January to June ‘ 2017, the official maintained. During fiscal 2016-17, the profit of PSO was enhanced by 24 percent while the LPG and LNG growth was increased by 131 percent and 107 percent respectively, the official maintained. The committee while discussing the performance of Pakistan State Oil, expressed its satisfaction. However, it directed the PSO to aggressively pursue measures to realise its recoverable from government departments. The official of the OGDCL informed that NAB is conducting investigation in the theft of Diesel worth Rs320 million. So far a recovery of Rs38 million was made in this regard while the remaining amount is being recovered, the official informed.
Courtesy – The Nation