Senate warns of gas delay despite PM and Supreme Court directions

The Senate Petroleum Sub-Committee expressed concern over delays in providing gas to villages near gas fields

Islamabad:  The Senate Petroleum Sub-Committee expressed concern over delays in providing gas to villages near gas fields despite directions from the Prime Minister and the Supreme Court. It warned that local people should not be deprived of their promised gas facilities due to slow implementation.

The committee also questioned the rising estimated cost of the Al Badar gasification scheme in Ghotki and directed the Sui Southern Gas Company to review and justify the revised figures, including material and construction rates.

The sub committee meeting was held at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Jam Saifullah Khan, with Senator Hidayatullah Khan also attending. The committee reviewed implementation of the five kilometre gasification policy for villages located around gas fields in Ghotki, Qadirpur, Tando Allah Yar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin, Sanghar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Senator Jam Saifullah Khan recalled the directions given by the Prime Minister and the Supreme Court and stressed that implementation must not be delayed further. He said people living near gas fields have a right to receive the gas facilities promised under the policy.

A major part of the meeting focused on the proposed Al Badar gasification scheme in Ghotki. The Special Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum informed the committee that the summary for including the scheme had been sent to the Economic Coordination Committee.

He assured the committee that the required funds would be released after approval by the competent forum.

However, the committee raised concern over the increase in the scheme’s estimated cost. It directed SSGC to examine the revised estimates again and make sure that material and construction rates had been properly checked.

The committee also sought a clear explanation of how increases in project costs are calculated and how the revised estimates are verified. The members wanted to ensure that higher costs were properly supported by records before more public money was approved.

The sub committee directed the Ministry of Petroleum and SSGC to complete eligible gasification schemes within fixed timelines. It also recommended that the ECC approve the required funds at the earliest so that construction could begin without another delay.

The committee demanded a detailed report at its next meeting covering every province and every project. The report must show the present status of gasification schemes being handled by SSGC and SNGPL, the villages located within five kilometres of gas fields and whether they have received gas, and the funds approved, released and used for the projects.

The committee also asked for details of gas extracted by OGDCL and the villages that received gas under corporate social responsibility programmes. It further sought information about gasification projects carried out across the country and vocational training programmes provided to local communities.

The issue of gas supply in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also came under discussion. Senator Hidayatullah Khan highlighted the difficulties faced by communities in the province. The convener directed that a detailed briefing on gasification in KP should be held in Peshawar to examine the situation in greater detail.

The committee also recommended repairing the Ghotki-Qadirpur road on a priority basis under the corporate social responsibility programme. The concerned company was directed to conduct the required survey and submit a report on the road.

The sub committee stressed that the directions of the Prime Minister, the Supreme Court and the Senate committee must be followed strictly. It directed all concerned authorities to implement approved gasification schemes on a priority basis and within clear timelines.

The committee will review the progress again after receiving the detailed province wise and project wise report.