Gas theft worth Rs48 billion should be stopped: Ghiyas Paracha
Last updated on: 15 April,2019 11:49 pm
Paracha said that recovery of all the losses from CNG and other sector is unacceptable
KARACHI (Dunya News) – All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Monday said the load of Rs65 billion suffered on account of sale of LNG should not be recovered from consumers.
The losses include loss of Rs36 billion in the sale of LNG, Rs26 billion didn’t recovered from the domestic consumers on account of gas supplies from Dec 2018 to Feb 2019 and delayed payments from consumers which added to the bank interest.
Speaking at a public hearing by OGRA in Lahore, the central leader of APCNGA Ghiyas Paracha said that recovery of all the losses from CNG and other sector is unjustified and unacceptable.
He said that gas worth Rs48 billion is being stolen of which 93 percent is stolen in the district of Karak in which gas officials are also involved. If gas utilities accord proper attention to the issue it can be resolved in a few months while we are also ready to cooperate in this regard.
Pointing out the weakness in the gas billing and measurements he said that gas utilities are overcharging consumers on account of GCV and gas mix while there is a lack of check and balance.
Ghiyas Paracha said that SNGPL has demanded Rs723 per mmbtu increase in gas tariff and Rs111 per mmbtu increase in LNG tariff which if accepted will make it very expensive discouraging buyers.
He said that the volume of gas continues to increase but the charges of gas distributors are not decreasing but continue to increase which is against the phenomena.
The leader of the CNG sector said that payment for post terminal expanses like regasification, transportation, and UFG should be made in the rupee and not the dollar.
He hoped that if his suggestions were accepted it will reduce the price of gas instead on an increase.