A parliamentary deep dive has uncovered how theft and mismanagement are draining 30 billion rupees annually from Pakistan’s gas sector, with the heavy costs inevitably passed to unsuspecting consumers. This stark reality emerged from high-level committee deliberations, urging immediate corrective action.
Chaired by Syed Mustafa Mahmood, the National Assembly’s Energy Standing Committee received a candid assessment from gas officials. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited’s losses from theft and inefficiencies total nearly 30 billion rupees per year, painting a grim picture of the industry’s health.
National Assembly member Gul Asgar Khan didn’t mince words, accusing industrial facilities of flagrant gas theft while everyday families absorb the financial hit. The committee learned that OGRA-sanctioned loss margins are also consumer-funded, with UFG rates hitting six percent even in upgraded setups.
SSGC faces even steeper challenges, with over 10 percent theft—roughly 30 billion cubic feet of gas—contributing to the sector-wide 30 billion rupee shortfall.
In tandem, Babar Nawaz Khan’s subcommittee tackled power sector issues, mandating HESCO’s business plan submission to NEPRA by early April. PESCO’s 132kV grid station project, greenlit by the Prime Minister for a key nodal point, saw lines extended residential-friendly before a disputed relocation fueled conflict-of-interest claims.
The agenda extended to petroleum firms’ training levies, where Syed Naveed Qamar criticized absent policies that have stalled fund utilization for workforce development.
As these issues fester amid Pakistan’s chronic energy deficits, lawmakers are pushing for accountability, technological upgrades, and policy overhauls to stem losses and ensure fair pricing for all.