Assurances: Gas supply improved nationwide

SNGPL GM assures to resolve issues

ISLAMABAD: The business community is playing an important role in the economic development of the region and Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) will take all measures to resolve their gas-related issues, said SNGPL General Manager Distribution Chaudhry Ejaz Ahmed, on Tuesday.

Addressing traders and industrialists at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), he said that there was still a moratorium on commercial connections.

However, he assured that on the recommendation letter of ICCI, SNGPL Islamabad would provide fast-track gas connections to its members. He said that the facility was also available for general consumers.

“With the initiatives of the government, gas supply has improved in the country from 1.4 billion cubic feet (bcf) to over 2bcf,” said Ahmed.

The government is planning to take gas supply to 3bcf through various projects that would further reduce the gas shortage issue in the country, he added. There are 1 million gas consumers in Islamabad while gas losses are only 7.7% with zero gas theft in local industries, which is laudable, said the SNGPL official.

He said that ICCI should give names of its representatives for Review Committee of SNGPL so that they could be invited to its meetings to address gas-related complaints of business community.

He assured that highlighted issues would be looked into to facilitate the business community.

Speaking at the occasion, ICCI President Khalid Iqbal Malik raised the gas-related issues of the business community. He said industrial areas in Islamabad were experiencing low gas pressure due to which production activities were suffering and urged SNGPL to ensure supply of gas to industry with full pressure.

“ICCI should be given due representation in SNGPL Board of Directors to ensure protection of business community interests.”

The government should establish more terminals in the country for RLNG to improve gas supply, said Malik, adding that the procedure for industrial and commercial gas connections should be further streamlined and SNGPL should utilise latest technology for meter reading as well as for curbing the theft of gas meters.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2017.

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