Mingora residents: Protest against relocation of SNGPL

Tehsil council member Dr Khalid Mahmood said the decision was against the public’s wishes

MINGORA: A large number of residents and local government representatives from Mingora took to the streets against plans to relocate the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline  Limited (SNGPL) office.

The demonstrators marched through the streets and shouted slogans on Saturday against the decision to relocate office from a settled area to a remote locality. They carried placards with inscriptions against Sui gas authorities in Swat.

Addressing the protesters, tehsil council member Dr Khalid Mahmood said the decision to relocate office from Mingora was against the public’s wishes.

”We know the relevant authorities have already taken the decision to transfer the office to Fizagat,” he added.

According to Mahmood, the region lacked the basic infrastructure to establish a full-fledged office.

Incomprehensible move

Nisar Ahmad Khan, a district councillor, also addressed the protesters. “The transfer of the SNGPL office from a settled area is incomprehensible,” he said. “The relevant authorities should focus on the performance and refrain from creating problems.”

Nisar said if the current office in Mingora lacks facilities, the company should rent another building to fill the gaps instead of shifting the office to Fizagat. The protesters dispersed after assurances from the nazim.

The other view

When contacted, Mirvais, an SNGPL official, said the current office was badly damaged by the October 2015 earthquake. “The authorities instructed us to look for another space,” he said. “We have shortlisted three buildings, two in Mingora city, while the third is in Fizagat. The final selection will be made by the SNGPL board of directors.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2016.