Gas tariff for domestic consumers was increased by 6.14 percent in January this year, Ministry for Petroleum and Natural Resources told the National Assembly on Wednesday. In a written reply, the Ministry told a questioner that the gas tariff was decreased by 18.67 percent in July last year while it was increased by 13.98 percent in January last year. The sale price of gas was increased by 13.55 percent in August 2011, it further said.
The Ministry maintained that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) was only concerned with the determination of gas prices to the extent of revenue requirement (prescribed prices.) of gas companies, whereas consumers' sale prices were fixed by the federal government under Ogra Ordinance of 2002. Answering another questioner, the Ministry stated that Ogra had not granted or issued any license or permission for establishing new CNG stations during the fiscal year 2012-13. The federal government had imposed a ban on the issuance of new CNG Provisional Licenses for establishment of CNG stations in the country February 6, 2008.
About the import of crude oil and finished products, the Ministry stated that the Government is not involved in import of crude oil and oil products due to deregulation in the petroleum sector. Imports are now being made by refineries and oil marketing companies directly.
Minister for Defence Syed Naveed Qamar told the House that as many as 19 PIA aircraft had undergone major maintenance checks (Check-C/D) in 2012, 20 in 2011, 23 in 2010, 25 in 2009 and 24 in 2008. He said that all aircraft requiring routine maintenance checks were grounded periodically to accomplish the checks as per manufacturer's and the requirements of the regulatory authority. Furthermore, smaller checks, defect rectifications and unscheduled maintenance on aircraft were carried out on 'as and when required' basis. Syed Naveed Qamar said that PIA has started to induct new aircraft in its fleet and new aircrafts would soon become part of the national carrier's fleet.