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ISLAMABAD:
The Sub-Committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Petroleum Division met to review the audit paragraphs relating to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) for the financial year 2022-23.
The panel, headed by Naveed Qamar, examined audit objections related to the Petroleum Division from 2011-12 to 2022-23, including diversion of RLNG to the domestic sector during the summer months.
During the discussion, the Petroleum Division Secretary clarified that the RLNG diversion did not cause system losses, asserting, “What is being described as a loss is not really a loss”.
After the explanation, the body decided to decide the review clause regarding the RLNG diversion. However, serious concerns were raised over SNGPL’s failure to install gas meters despite receiving full payments from consumers.
The audit officials informed the committee that though demand notices and rush charges were levied, meters were not installed at thousands of places.
They further noted that 71,892 applications had been submitted by November 27, 2021. In 3,028 cases, service lines were laid but no meters were installed, while 14,000 consumers who paid emergency charges also remained without gas connections.
The audit further noted that despite directives to process urgent fee cases, even under the ban on new connections, SNGPL failed to comply. This resulted in delays in the provision of gas connections and breached the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s (Ogra) service standards.
The audit officials accused SNGPL of “gross negligence in the provision of services,” noting that the company’s conduct constituted a breach of consumer trust.
The committee’s convener expressed strong disapproval, saying: “Those who trusted you and paid in advance are not to blame. This is sheer stubbornness, taking money first and installing connections when it suits you. If government institutions start behaving like contractors, what will become of the system?”
The subcommittee directed that the matter be referred to the departmental accounts committee for further review.
