ISLAMABAD: A Senate committee on Tuesday raised serious concerns over persistent gas load-shedding in several regions of the country, despite the availability of surplus gas.
Chaired by Senator Umar Farooq, the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum was informed that Sindh had emerged as the country’s largest gas producer and consumer—producing 1,609 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) and consuming 1,115 mmcfd.
Senator Kamil Ali Agha highlighted unannounced gas outages in Lahore, noting that many residents were forced to rely on expensive LPG cylinders. He criticized the government for prioritizing industrial consumers with subsidized gas while neglecting domestic users, especially in major urban centers like Lahore.
Senator Farooq echoed concerns about similar issues in Balochistan, citing widespread unavailability of gas.
The Managing Director of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) reported that 1.2 million gas consumers in Lahore were being served. Between July 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, the company received 132,376 complaints about low gas pressure, of which 131,459 had been addressed. He assured the committee that Senator Agha’s personal concerns would be resolved on priority.
The committee also reviewed provincial gas statistics. Punjab consumed 976 mmcfd while producing only 163 mmcfd, relying on 668 mmcfd of imported LNG. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) produced 346 mmcfd and consumed 208 mmcfd, while Balochistan produced 492 mmcfd and consumed 334 mmcfd.
Concerns were also raised over gas allocations to fertiliser plants, with the committee seeking detailed data on recipients and tariff rates in the next session.
Additionally, the committee expressed dissatisfaction with OGDCL’s responses regarding oil rig availability and performance. Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan proposed an independent audit by a top-tier firm.
He also flagged delayed payments to Balochistan’s representatives for petroleum resources extracted from their land, urging prompt resolution if dues were confirmed. The Minister for Energy (Petroleum Division) assured full investigations into any irregularities in procurement and resource compensation.
The committee agreed to continue discussions in the next meeting.
Story by Khaleeq Kiani
