Gas supply: Suspension to 5 stations stayed

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday restrained Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) from disconnecting gas supply to five CNG stations till March 19. Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah also ordered that the five new writ petitions be clubbed with 22 similar petitions. The court had granted a stay order against suspension of gas supply to 22 stations last week. The five petitioners submitted that the SNGPL had told them at the time of obtaining the connections that gas supply would be cut off from December to February. But, they said, the SNGPL now planned to suspend the supply from March to May to ensure supply to fertiliser manufacturers, “discriminating” against them. They contended that the new gas load management policy was not lawful, asking that the court set aside the policy. Notices were also issued to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority chairman and the SNGPL managing director for March 19.