Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Naveed Qamar told Upper House of the Parliament that 10 gas fields located in Sindh province were earning an operating income of Rs 124 billion annually, while local people were accommodated on these gas fields.
He was responding to questions of the senators during the Question Hour in the House on Friday with Farooq H Naek, Chairman of the Senate in the chair. Naveed Qamar also informed the House that Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) owns 971 vehicles all over the country including 107 at its Head Office, 384 on project sites, 19 in Abbottabad, 24 in Bahawalpur, 117 in Faisalabad, 25 in Gujranwala, 77 in Islamabad, 61 in Lahore region, 69 in Multan, 35 in Peshawar, 33 in Wah.
He said that Rs 881.607 million were spent on maintenance and fuel expenses on these vehicles in last three years including Rs 173.142 million on maintenance and Rs 708.465 million on fuel expenses. Naveed Qamar in response to another question informed the house that top most priority of the government was to provide gas supply to areas where gas fields are located.
He said the government has approved project for supply of gas to Chakdarra and Talash including Gulabad and Ouch areas of Dir with the estimated cost of Rs 516.82 million. He said that out of the total cost of Rs 516.82 million, Rs 307.66 million would be borne by the company while remaining Rs 209.16 million by the Government, which was released in November 2009 and the project would be completed in December 2010.
Responding to another question, Naveed Qamar informed the House that the government has no plan to terminate any employee. SNGPL is working on the projects to provide gas supply to the areas adjacent to the Gurguri and Makorri gas fields including different areas of Hangu district of NWFP.
Answering a question regarding the fixation of oil prices, the Minister for Petroleum informed the House that the Government was not fixing the oil prices but in view of the petroleum prices in international market notification was being issued. He said that the Government has decided to pass on the increase or decrease in oil prices in international market to consumers.
The House was informed that 17 development projects costing Rs 11.700 billion ($195 million) have been approved for Balakot under New Balakot City Development Project, that include infrastructure, building construction in health, education, community services and commercial sectors.
The Minister in-charge for Prime Minister Secretariat informed the House in response to a question that under New Balakot City Development Project Rs 105 million would be spent on establishment of PMU at Balakot.
Under infrastructure development Rs 5335.8 million would be spent on nine projects, Rs 1089 million on five projects in Education sector, Rs 128.4 million on two projects in Health sector, Rs 673.2 million on eight projects in community services, Rs 1873.8 million on two projects in commercial services, Rs 984.6 million on three projects for land spacing.
Religious Affairs Minister in a written reply informed the House that under Regular Hajj Scheme 77,544 pilgrims had performed Hajj in 2006, 79,361 pilgrims in 2007, 84,978 in 2008 while 75,636 in 2009. He said that under Private Hajj Scheme 77,200 pilgrims had performed Hajj in 2006, 80,003 in 2007, 79,543 in 2008 and 84,587 in 2009.