During a meeting of the National Assembly of Pakistan Standing Committee on Energy, officials from the country’s gas utilities disclosed that Pakistan suffers annual losses of approximately Rs60 billion due to gas theft — a burden that is ultimately passed on to consumers.
According to officials, around Rs30 billion in losses are incurred by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), while another Rs30 billion loss is borne by Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC). It was further revealed that, up to the limits allowed by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), these losses are incorporated into gas tariffs and recovered from consumers.
During the session, MNA Gul Asghar Khan stated that industrial consumers are primarily involved in gas theft, yet the financial burden is shifted to domestic users. He highlighted that SSGC alone faces gas theft of approximately 30 billion cubic feet (BCF) annually, resulting in losses of around Rs30 billion. He noted that in developed countries, such losses are typically contained to around 6 percent.
The committee also raised concerns regarding the utilization of energy training funds collected from petroleum companies. MNA Naveed Qamar pointed out that the funds have not been used effectively for their intended purpose, citing weak policy planning as a contributing factor. Petroleum officials assured the committee that a comprehensive plan is being prepared to ensure transparent and effective utilization of these funds.
The committee emphasized the need for immediate and effective measures to curb gas theft, urged authorities to avoid imposing additional financial burdens on consumers, and called for greater transparency and accountability in the management of sectoral funds.
