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ISLAMABAD:
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sub-committee on Petroleum Division has met to review the audit paragraphs relating to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) for the financial year 2022-23.
The panel, chaired by Naveed Qamar, examined audit objections related to the oil division from 2011-12 to 2022-23, including diversion of RLNG to the domestic sector during summer months.
During the discussion, the Petroleum Division secretary clarified that the RLNG diversion did not cause any loss in the system, saying: “What is described as a loss is actually no loss.”
Following the explanation, the organization decided to resolve the audit paragraph regarding the diversion of the RLNG. However, serious concerns were raised that SNGPL failed to install gas meters despite receiving full payments from consumers.
The audit officers informed the committee that although urgent notices and fees were collected, meters were not installed at thousands of places.
They further noted that 71,892 applications were filed before November 27, 2021. In 3,028 cases, service lines were laid but meters were not installed, while 14,000 consumers who paid urgent charges also remained without gas connections.
The audit further observed that despite directives to deal with urgent cases, even during the ban on new connections, SNGPL failed to comply with its obligations. This led to delays in the provision of gas connections and violated the service standards of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra).
Audit officials accused SNGPL of “gross negligence in service delivery”, stressing that the company’s conduct amounted to a breach of consumer trust.
Expressing his strong disapproval, the committee chairman said: “Those who trusted you and paid in advance are not at fault. This is pure stubbornness, taking money first and setting up connections at your convenience. If government institutions start behaving like entrepreneurs, what will become of the system?
The subcommittee ordered the matter to be referred to the Ministerial Accounts Committee for further consideration.
