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PM orders to remove SNGPL, SSGC MDs over gas crisis: Fawad Ch

PM orders to remove SNGPL, SSGC MDs over gas crisis: Fawad Ch
January 9, 2019
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan ordered to remove the managing directors of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC). Federal Minister for Information on Wednesday confirmed that the prime minister had ordered for the removal of managing directors from their posts after the inquiry report held them responsible for the gas crisis. Fawad Chaudhry said that an inquiry committee constituted by the prime minister to ascertain the reason of gas shortage submitted its report on Tuesday. He also said that in view of the report the premier has immediately removed the heads of Sui Southern and Sui Northern from their posts, the information minister said. “In recent days, the people had to face an extreme gas crisis. The prime minister constituted an inquiry committee to determine the responsibility for the gas crisis. The committee presented its report to the PM yesterday. Taking the report into account the premier directed to dismiss chiefs of the SNGPL and the SNGC immediately,” Chaudhry Fawad Hussain tweeted.   It is pertinent to mention here that the premier had constituted the inquiry committee, which was heading by secretary petroleum division Asad Hayauddin. On Tuesday, the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCE) meeting proposed dismissal of the SSGC and the SNGPL managing directors. Prime Minister Imran Khan presided a meeting of the CCE in Islamabad. The meeting was briefed about steps taken to address gap in demand and supply of gas in Pakistan. According to the details, the recommendation has been sent to the Ministry of Petroleum – after an inquiry report on the gas crisis – that was experienced last month, was presented in the meeting. The report has held the MDs of the SSGC and SNGC responsible for gas shortage because their incompetency led to gas crisis in the country. The sources said that the notification for their dismissal likely to be issued very soon.

PM directs for ending gas shortfall within a week

Prime Minister Imran Khan directed concerned authorities to resolve the issue of gas shortfall in the country with a week’s time. He also directed the relevant authorities to improve mutual coordination for supply of gas. During the briefing on gas-theft, the premier was told that about 13 per cent of the gas was being stolen which was causing a loss of about Rs50 billion in a year.

5,000 illegal gas supply connections disconnected

The forum was told that 5,000 illegal gas supply connections were disconnected. The officials also told the prime minister about the reasons behind the load-shedding. They told the PM that Rs15 million were saved through crackdown on electricity-theft and 16000 cases were registered in this regard. Ordering for expediting the crackdown, Imran said it was unacceptable that people bear the brunt of electricity-theft.