Pakistan’s beleaguered gas sector is losing a colossal 30 billion rupees yearly to theft and operational breakdowns, a burden MPs say is unfairly shouldered by consumers. Fresh parliamentary scrutiny has brought these long-simmering problems into sharp focus.
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited’s executives briefed Syed Mustafa Mahmood’s Energy Standing Committee on the scale of detriment: 30 billion rupees vanishing through pilferage and poor management practices.
Gul Asgar Khan, representing the National Assembly, railed against industries pilfering gas with impunity, forcing domestic bills upward. Officials confirmed consumer pass-throughs for OGRA-allowed losses, alongside UFG spikes to six percent in modern networks. SSGC’s theft exceeds 10 percent, equating to 30 billion cubic feet lost annually.
Concurrent electricity talks in Babar Nawaz Khan’s group demanded HESCO’s NEPRA plan by April. PESCO’s PM-backed 132kV station at a 14-feeder hub advanced with minimal residential impact, yet its relocation ignited charges of personal gain.
Debate spilled into energy training funds from oil majors, with Syed Naveed Qamar blasting ineffective governance for neglecting these for training purposes.
With energy reliability pivotal to Pakistan’s growth, these findings call for anti-theft tech, rigorous audits, and consumer protections to reverse the tide of waste and restore trust in the system.