Petition against outages: OGRA shifts blame on govt and gas supplier

Denies direct role in allocating gas to specific groups of consumers.

KARACHI: In its comments submitted in three identical constitutional petitions challenging the load-shedding of natural gas for CNG stations, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) said on Thursday it had no role in allocating natural gas to any specific group of consumers.

“Ogra, being a regulator, has no direct role in allocating natural gas to any specific sector or category of consumers,” it said.

The petitions were being heard by a division bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) comprising Chief Justice Musheer Alam and Justice Imam Bux Baloch.

In his comments, Ogra Secretary Lt Col (retd) Farrukh Nadeem said the load management policy was formulated and notified by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, which was implemented by operating companies.

“The onus of responsibility lies with the federal government and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) being necessary party to the petitions,” he said.

He said the preamble of Ogra Ordinance, 2002, was meant to foster competition, increase private investment and protect public interest while respecting individuals’ rights.

“Prioritising continuity/interruption of gas supply to any sector, including the industry, is a policy matter and the prerogative of the government of Pakistan, which have been defined in the Natural Gas Allocation and Management Policy,” he said.

The bench adjourned to a date to be fixed later by the office of the court.

The petitioners, including All Pakistan CNG Owners Association, had questioned a notification that ordered the suspension of gas supply to CNG stations for two days in Sindh.

In their petition, they said they had the right to uninterrupted gas supply from SSGC and the same could not be subjected to natural gas load-shedding in view of Article 158 of the constitution and Natural Gas Allocation and Management Policy, 2005.

The petitioners maintained that the notification for load-shedding was illegal, mala fide and violated Articles 18, 24, 25 and 158 read with Article 4 of the constitution.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th,  2011.