Gas pressure problem in Quetta, nearby areas to be solved by June: SSGCL

MD Rajput says laying a 17km pipeline from Zarghoon Road to Satellite Town

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Soori has been told by the Sui Southern Gas Company Ltd (SSGCL) managing director that the issue of low gas pressure in Quetta and its nearby areas will be resolved by June 2019.

“A 17-kilometre-long 16-inch diameter transmission line is being laid from Zarghoon Road to Satellite Town, which will reach Mastung also,” said Muhammad Ameen Rajput while apprising the deputy speaker about the steps being taken to address the issue of low gas pressure during a meeting on Tuesday.



“The total cost of the project is Rs340 million,” Rajput added. “In order to separate the Kalat pipeline from Quetta city, a new transmission line is being laid from Sibi Road to Mastung.”

He assured the deputy speaker that the project would be completed by June 2019 and the issue of low gas pressure in Quetta would be resolved.

The MD told Soori that the SSGCL was pondering over fixed billing system to resolve the issue of inflated bills, adding that the measure would not only ease the burden of inflated bills on the domestic consumers of Quetta and its nearby areas, but would also ensure that gas theft does not take place.



Earlier during the meeting, the deputy speaker expressed serious reservations over low gas pressure and inflated bills in Quetta and its nearby areas, saying the people were fed up of it.

Soori said, “Due to the increase in population, the pipelines laid in the city have become insufficient and the people are continuously facing the problem of low gas pressure.

“It is impossible for consumers to pay inflated bills sent by the SSGCL as terrorism has severely affected the business activities in Balochistan, especially Quetta, increasing joblessness.”
Soori said, the SSGCL was sending “Rs20,000 to Rs25,000 bills”.

He told the SSGCL MD to resolve the issue of low gas pressure and look into the matter of inflated bills in Quetta and its nearby areas.



“It is a matter of grave concern that the province, which provides gas all over Pakistan does not have gas in most of its areas,” said Soori, directing the SSGCL MD to lay new pipelines in Quetta to resolve the issue of low gas pressure in the city and provide gas to those areas which were deprived of it.

Soori directed the SSGCL MD to take all possible steps to resolve the issue at the earliest.