Daily Times

Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders (ICST) on Sunday lauded the government for taking note of highhandedness of gas distribution companies and ordering refund.

Following the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Sui Northern has started the process of passing refund to the gas consumers which should be accelerated, it said.

In the first phase, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) refunded Rs 50 million to around 11,000 gas consumers, ICST Patron Shahid Rasheed Butt said.

He said that theft of energy continues to increase leaving little room for the government; therefore, it must continuously review the gas prices for revenue requirement of the gas companies.

Moreover, the International Monetary Fund is demanding increased tariff for masses which if implemented will hurt the consumers already reeling under inflation.

Shahid Rasheed Butt said that erasing the subsidy to the domestic sector will be unfortunate as it will allow inflation to run freely adding to the miseries of the masses.

The only way to shield masses is to recover outstanding bills from defaulters and take strict action against those involved in energy theft, he observed.

The business leader observed that gas distribution companies have become white elephants laying waste to the national resources; therefore, the government should consider bifurcating them.

Dissolving Sui Southern Gas Company and SNGPL and creation of a new transmission company and four provincial distribution companies can help contain theft, enhance transparency, reduce costs and attract investment, he added.

The companies have put the interests of the masses on the back burner and doing best to serve the shareholders which have resulted in widespread resentment, he noted.

Published in Daily Times, March 18^th 2019.