Federal Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources Chaudhry Nauraiz Shakoor has said the federal government is soon to hold a two-day conference in Balochistan in collaboration with the provincial government, to discuss ways and means to improve law and order which is hampering oil & gas exploration work there.
Talking to newsmen at annual function of SNGPL employees union here on Monday, Nauraiz said that all stakeholders including representatives of oil and gas exploration companies, oil and gas distribution companies and local Sardars would be invited.
The representatives of federal and provincial governments will also attend the moot.
He said that the government was aware of law & order situation in the Balochistan province, especially in the areas where local as well as foreign companies were carrying out exploration work. The proposed conference, he added, would help improve the law and order in these areas.
When asked about any possibility of reducing gas tariff, he said that the government considered electricity more important that is why it has decided to slash power tariff, but pointed out that the credit for so far reduction in electricity tariff goes to gas distribution companies and not to Wapda.
Gas companies have converted power units into gas, which helped in curtailing the power tariff, the minister elaborated.
About Pakistan-Turkmenistan and Pak-Iran gas pipeline projects, he said feasibility work was going on these projects in addition to offshore Qatar gas pipeline project.
About joining of Pak-Iran gas pipeline project by India, he said that India could join this project at any stage.
Earlier, addressing the function, the minister said that both distribution companies ie SNGPL and SSGC ranked among best companies of the world and their working was of international standards.
Both the companies are fully capable to take part in international tenders. He also called upon the SNGPL staff to further improve their service and be polite with the consumers while dealing with them.
He also urged them to co-operate with the MNAs and MPAs and resolve their problems on priority basis.
He further said that the government would provide gas to maximum number of consumers.
He assured the employees of his full co-operation and said that he had talked to their MD and chairman to take up the issue of bonus in the governing board for approval.
Speaking on the occasion, MD SNGPL Rasheed Lone said that the company has achieved a milestone by completing a project in Sindh six months before its scheduled completion period, without any foreign financial assistance.
"We had estimated 12.5 billion expenditures but saved Rs 3.2 billion by completing the project in Rs 9.3 billion", he claimed. Due to this project, the company has recorded 50 percent raise in its sale and it has swelled to 1500 MCF from 1000 MCF.
After completion of this project the company has added 500 MCF additional gas to its system which is being supplied to power sector, the MD said, adding it has helped the government to save 80 million dollars per month being incurred on import of furnace oil.
Now the company is working on another Rs 5.5 billion gas pipeline infrastructure development project, also in Sindh, which will enable it to add 300 million more cubic feet gas to its system. He said that the company also expects Rs 2.3 billion profit this year.
"Recently we have signed an MoU with a group of UAE under which a joint company will be established which will undertake a pipeline laying project there," Lone revealed.
Earlier, GM SNGPL Lahore Region Mujahid Anwar, Union President, Zulfiqar Afghani, Secretary Akhtar Ali Dar also spoke on the occasion. SNGPL Chairman Lieutenant General Ghulam Safdar Butt (Retd) also attended the function.
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