ISLAMABAD: Despite collecting full payments from applicants, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has failed to process nearly 72,000 domestic gas connection requests over the past five years — a glaring violation of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s (OGRA) service standards.
The revelation came during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) subcommittee, chaired by PPP MNA Syed Naveed Qamar. Audit officials informed the panel that SNGPL had received payments from consumers — including those who paid urgent processing fees — yet meters were never installed.
The PAC expressed serious displeasure over the company’s negligence and ordered that the matter be referred back to the Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) for detailed review and necessary action.
According to the audit briefing, a total of 71,892 applications had been received by November 27, 2021, with payments collected immediately. However, installation remained pending even after several years. It was further disclosed that while service lines were laid at 3,028 sites, no meters were fitted. Around 14,000 applicants who paid additional urgent fees are still waiting for connections.
Auditors accused SNGPL of causing “undue delays” and showing “gross negligence in service delivery,” in clear violation of OGRA’s prescribed timelines.
Chairman Qamar reprimanded company officials, remarking, “What fault lies with the people who trusted you and paid in full? You take the money instantly but install connections at your own convenience.”
The subcommittee decided to send the case back to the DAC for reconsideration and corrective measures.
The issue arises just weeks after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the resumption of new gas connections for domestic users. Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad, he said the government had decided to reopen Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) connections to meet long-standing public demand. The premier noted that while the government faced constraints in 2022, the latest decision would ensure citizens’ access to affordable and reliable fuel.
Story by Amna Ali
