Karachi:
The Federal Minister of Energy, Ali Perviz Malik, said that electricity generating companies do not use imported gas depending on the agreements and that expensive gas is being sold to national consumers at subsidized rates, resulting in an increase in circular debt.
“Electricity companies violate their agreements, which increases the liabilities of national gas import companies,” said Malik, while addressing the media at the head office of SUTHERN GAS COMPANY (SSGC) on Friday.
The minister revealed that smuggling fuel spreads as a “cancer” and to brake it, the petrol pumps are recorded and the digital nozzles installed. “The oil and gas regulatory authority (OGRA) will become entirely digital in two to three months, allowing complete monitoring of the fuel supply and sales of refineries with petrol pumps,” he said, adding that 85% of the digital monitoring of moving stocks is already completed.
The Minister of Energy said that no final decision had yet been made to increase the oil development tax (PDL), and that its application on prices has not taken place for the moment. He underlined the need for a coherent and unified energy policy, suggesting that all energy sources must be assessed according to equal standards.
Malik stressed that the success of the government in reducing electricity prices and maintaining current petrol and diesel prices is an important achievement. However, the relief of the electricity sector has become a burden for the oil sector.
