Panel orders timely gasification schemes

A Senate sub-committee on petroleum has directed the Ministry of Petroleum and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to ensure time-bound implementation of eligible gasification schemes for villages located within five kilometres of gas fields, warning that delays should not deprive local communities of their legitimate facilities.

The sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum, which met at Parliament House on Wednesday under the convenership of Senator Jam Saifullah Khan, reviewed the implementation of the five-kilometre gasification policy, particularly in Ghotki/Qadirpur, Tando Allah Yar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin, Sanghar and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Senator Hidayatullah Khan also attended the meeting.

The convener recalled directions issued by the prime minister and the Supreme Court, stressing that policy implementation should not be delayed at the expense of communities living around gas fields. The committee particularly reviewed the proposed Al-Badar gasification scheme in Ghotki.

The Ministry of Petroleum special secretary told the meeting that a summary for inclusion of the Al-Badar scheme had been forwarded to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC). He assured the committee that the required funds would be released after approval by the competent forum.

The sub-committee, however, expressed concern over an increase in the scheme's estimated cost and directed SSGC to re-examine and rationalise the revised estimates.

It also sought verification of material and construction rates and clarity on the mechanism used for cost escalation and project estimate verification.