Gas theft recovery

The Gas Theft Control and Recovery Act of 2016 approved by the National Assembly has provided some respite to the Sui Southern Gas Company, supplanted by the establishment of gas theft courts. Against three-fold losses within a year of Rs2.33 billion in 2015, the steps taken thus far are commendable. Although Sindh’s gas supply is less interrupted than in Punjab and other provinces, it is prudent to have begun setting examples in the most crime-ridden province to gas criminals that the crackdown on natural gas theft is active. Derision aside, it is difficult to find a single area in which theft and cheating do not exist in Pakistan as morality and ethics are difficult to come by no matter how many times a day those same people pray. Indeed, it is possible to steal just about anything here, be it electricity, gas, or property. While SSGC has brought two gas thieves to the books, there are other measures one might consider in order to improve conditions of gas availability and distribution.

Pakistan’s gas supply is limited at the moment. Therefore, the initiative to end gas theft is positive in two ways. First, there can be better accounting for how and where gas is utilised to determine how much the country’s actual needs are. Second, the recovery of stolen gas could ideally mean lower tariffs. Cautiously, keeping in mind that demand is greater than supply, we may not see rates per unit decrease, however. Analysts also predict that demand is due to rise in the next couple of decades.

Also with regard to the future, it appears there is an underutilisation of technology by SSGC. Technology could play a significant role in the detection of illegal connections, in unison with enhanced vigilance by SSGC. It could also aid SSGC in improving its gas distribution, which faces issues of low pressure, particularly in winter months. In order for Pakistan to achieve economic efficiency, it is required that citizens obtain resources honestly and pay for what they use.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2017.

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