Addressing a media gathering at the Head Office of Sui Southern Gas Company, the Federal Minister for Petroleum Mr. Ali Pervaiz Malik, shared the vision of Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and stressed for adoption of a holistic energy policy.
He was on his first official visit to SSGC, where he held meeting with Acting Managing Director Amin Rajput along with the senior management of the Company. He was given a comprehensive briefing on the overall structure of the organization, customer’s complain redressal mechanism, Company’s challenges especially in light of widening gas demand-supply scenario, steps taken to mitigate these challenges and massive rehabilitation of SSGC’s pipeline infrastructure, recently conducted / being currently underway in various Company’s franchise areas.
Earlier soon after his arrival he held a media meet in which he explained in detail the overall scenario of energy in the backdrop of economic factors. He said that energy sector is just like oxygen to the economy and we are taking initiatives to keep the supply and tariffs in line with the international market. Early signs of recovery in key sectors have started showing up, but for that we need to maintain the same momentum and stability while moving forward, he said. Mr. Malik said that Prime Minister has clearly instructed to make decisions in line with all kinds of interests that can benefit the country, for which we are creating awareness and diligently moving in a focused way.
The Minister Petroleum said that issues related to downstream and upstream sectors are being worked on by the PM and the ministry. We are taking concrete steps to alleviate citizens’ sufferings in the upcoming budget. He also said that government is taking all steps to put a stop on circular debt in the energy sector but for that we need time to achieve our targets in reduction of this debt despite IMF conditions. With regards to the circular debt in gas sector he said that there are two main issues, one to break the flow for stopping it increasing any further and secondly to improve recoveries and reduce expenditures. Besides discussions on the gas industry, the issued related to petroleum sector were also discussed in detail.
Before the conclusion of this media meet, SSGC’s Acting Managing Director Amin Rajput replying to few queries raised by the journalists that were directly related to SSC’s services, informed the media persons that 48 hours is the response time to resolve the customers’ complaints except where road cuttings permission is required. Replying to the PUG charges in gas bills, he said that these charges are due to slow meters which are based on an OGRA approved framework. Mr. Rajput informed that SSGC’s massive pipeline network spans over 55,000 kms out of which a substantial segment has aged out and causing operational issues. He said that unlike 150 kms annual rehabilitation of pipeline network in yesteryears, the Company has vigorously enhanced it to 2,500 kms every year, which has shown great improvement in the supplies of gas to the customers while simultaneously reducing the line losses.
