PM Ensures Steady Gas Supply for Households This Winter!

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken decisive action to ensure that domestic consumers across the country receive an uninterrupted and reliable gas supply throughout the winter season. During a crucial meeting held in Islamabad, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of addressing the ongoing concerns over gas shortages, particularly during the colder months when demand is at its peak.

The Prime Minister’s message is clear: providing a consistent gas supply to households this winter is a top priority. The government has committed to making immediate reforms in the gas supply system, aiming to resolve long-standing issues that have led to disruptions in gas availability. These reforms are designed to create a more reliable and efficient system for the future, ensuring that the needs of domestic consumers are met even during high-demand periods like winter.

The meeting also offered an update on the current gas supply situation. Officials informed the Prime Minister that there is now a surplus of Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) in the system, which has helped improve gas load management. This has resulted in a reduction in the duration of gas load-shedding compared to previous years. As a result, domestic consumers can now access gas from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day, an improvement that has been welcomed by many.

In addition, the gas supply to the power sector has been aligned with its actual demand, ensuring that there is a balanced distribution of gas across both domestic and industrial sectors. This approach has helped to maintain a stable supply of energy across the country, even as demand increases during the winter months.

To further improve customer satisfaction, the government has introduced online dashboards for both Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), which are used to quickly resolve consumer complaints. These systems have proven effective, with SNGPL addressing 93% of complaints and SSGC resolving 79%. This efficient complaint resolution process is part of the government’s broader efforts to improve service delivery to consumers.

Furthermore, officials assured the Prime Minister that all gas fields across the country are fully operational, which is crucial for ensuring that there are no disruptions in supply. With this in mind, the government is optimistic that the gas supply will remain steady throughout the winter.

The meeting also touched on concerns related to gas tariffs, particularly in the urea manufacturing sector. Cabinet members have raised questions about the disparity in gas pricing for different manufacturers, with some paying lower tariffs than others. This has led to concerns that such pricing differences may distort the market, especially when it comes to the supply of fertilizer to farmers. It was pointed out that all fertilizer manufacturers should receive the same gas prices to ensure fairness and prevent any market manipulation.

While these concerns are valid, it was explained that the differences in gas pricing stem from long-term contracts signed with fertilizer manufacturers. These contracts have been criticized for potentially benefiting certain parties at the expense of consumers and farmers. To address these issues, the government is in the process of revising these agreements to create a more transparent and fair pricing system.

In addition to revising agreements with independent power producers (IPPs), experts suggest that the government should also tackle the issue of gas tariffs for fertilizer manufacturers. By implementing uniform gas prices, the government can ensure that the energy sector operates more fairly and that both consumers and manufacturers are treated equitably.

To sum up, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s commitment to ensuring an uninterrupted gas supply for domestic consumers during the winter months is a crucial step in addressing the country’s ongoing energy challenges. With ongoing improvements in gas load management, consumer complaint resolution, and tariff reforms, the government is working toward creating a more reliable and fair energy system for the future. These efforts will help ensure that Pakistan’s citizens can rely on a steady supply of gas, especially during the cold winter months when demand is at its highest.