Unaccountable for Gas (Ufg) of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) Islamabad region has reached nine percent against the 7.6 percent recommended gas losses by Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra). A benchmark is set i.e. 7.6 percent (fixed benchmark of five percent plus UFG plus 2.6 percent for local conditions) so as to ensure that the gas companies continue to remain financially viable and sustainable.

Islamabad region SNGPL consumers are yet to reimburse the inflated gas bills received in winter 2018 as the government's constituted committee did not come up with its findings, General Manager Islamabad SNGPL, Muhammad Zahoor said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

The region covers Kahuta, Murree, Islamabad, Wah, Attock and Kallar Syedan with total 550,000 commercial and domestic consumers. The consumers of Islamabad region will reach 750,000 after clearing of 200,000 pending new gas connections applications.

Receivable of Islamabad region also reached Rs 5.6 billion including Rs 2 billion worth of Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) which is almost 40 percent of the total receivables. The general manager further said the consumption of Islamabad region was 230 mmcfd and 30 percent gas shortage was met with Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) to both commercial and residential consumers.

Responding to a question regarding political pressure, he said that a merit-based IT system is intact in Islamabad region for installation of 20,000 new gas connections annually. He said the gas company has better performed in current winter 2019 to address the low gas pressure especially consumers living at tail of gas pipeline. "Drastic reduction was recorded in complaints from 24,000 in 2018 to 10,000 in 2019 due to emergency response of gas companies in the region.

He said gas pressure would further improve by rehabilitation/augmentation of 23 km gas network. "We have plan to lay a pipeline from Rawat to Centaurs Shopping Mall, Blue Area, with an estimated cost of Rs 20 million and another up-gradation of G-7 phase," he said.

He maintained that the Islamabad office succeeded in disseminating awareness through media about the steps being taken to reduce the gas bills in winter. He further said that the company staff also cracked down against illegal use of compressors and action was taken against 100 consumers as compared with 500 during the last year.