ISLAMABAD: Around 50 per cent applicants for new gas connections are still waiting even in the capital city as a total of 13,044 householders applied for gas connections in the last five years, but only 6617 had been provided this basic utility so far.
The details were submitted by the Federal Minster for Petroleum and Natural Resourcesm Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in response to a question asked by MNA Nafeesa Inayatullah Khan Khattak, at the National Assembly on Wednesday.
The written reply of the federal minister stated that a total of 13044 citizen applied for new gas connections in the last five years, but the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline (SNGPL) could only accommodate 6617 applications so far.
The reply also stated the areas wise applications which included 4374 applications from E-11, 777 from F-11, 198 from F-10, 8 from F-9, 214 from F-8, 256 from F-7, 297 from F-6, 69 from F-5, 779 from G-11, 279 from G-10, 31 from G-9, G-8 from 204, 136 from G-7, 92 from G-6, 496 from G-5, 1546 from G-13, 387 from G-14, 706 from G-15, 38 from G-16, 720 from I-8, 136 from I-9, 970 from I-10 and I-11 from 331.
However, only 50 to 72 per cent applicants had been provided gas connections so far which included 1029 in E-11, 281in F-11, 112 in F-10, 111 in F-8, 91 in F-7, 66 in F-6,15 in F-5,526 in G-11, 193 in G-10, 11in G-9, 112 in G-8, 38 in G-7, 58 in G-6, 350 in G-5, 1251 in G-13, 318 in G-14, 924 in G-15, 12 in G-16, 435 in I-8 and 65 in I-9,” the reply added.
It is pertinent to mention here that the aforementioned number did not show the statistics of pending applications in the rural areas of Islamabad like Bara Kau, Bani Gala etc, but these are those thousands of residents without gas connections in the main sectoral areas of Islamabad living a difficult life for years, thanks to the SNGPL.
While responding on the situation, the Director Staff for the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Mr. Asim, said: “Although, I am not aware of the details of the reply submitted in the National Assembly, but Islamabad has no exception at all as the pendency rate is almost the same across the country which is due to the shortage of natural gas in the country.”
According to official standards, the SNGPL issues a demand note six weeks after receiving the application and tells the applicant to deposit the required amount in the bank. After receiving the money, the gas connection is approved and the company is bound to install a gas meter on the consumer’s premises. However, this procedure is not followed and consumers have to wait for more than three to four years.
The officials in the ministry who briefed on the condition of anonymity disclosed that it was government directives to them to delay issuance of demand notices for new gas connections on regular fee.
He said that the government also directed them to insist on the consumers to apply for gas connections on ‘urgent basis’ after payment of the urgent fees of Rs25000 along with Rs5000 or Rs6500 as demand note charges.