No possibility of any new addition of gas in next two years: SNGPL

Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) has drawn a horrible picture of gas supply in coming years saying that there is no possibility of any new addition of gas in coming two years.
"There is no possibility of any new addition of gas supply in the system during coming two years, which will worsen situation of gas supply in the country for next two years", Deputy Managing Director SNGPL, Khalid Waheed Shariq informed the Senate Standing Committee on Interior during its meeting over pending inquiries in Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) related to corruption cases in SNGPL and other organisations, held here on Tuesday with Senator Talha Mehmood in the chair.
SNGPL deputy chief informed the Senate panel that the gas situation will be worst in next winter and worsen in second year as not a single additional supply has been made to the system. He was responding to queries raised by Parliamentarians and said that the gas load management is being introduced only in Punjab provinces, as total production of gas from the province is 14 per cent while consumption is 41 per cent. There is no gas load management in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and SNGPL is managing the gas supply by holding three day supply cut for Industries and two day cut for CNG Stations, he added.
The Committee questioned the status of Iran Pakistan (IP) Gas pipeline saying that it was to be launched in 2006, Shariq informed the committee that by 2015 the IP Gas Pipeline will be operative and be added to national system. He said that gas supply is declining from Sui and other gas fields, which is main reason of cut in gas supplies.
He informed the committee that under new seismic survey many site have shown positive signs and gas exploration will be initiated on these sites including Dera Bugti and Dera Ghazi Khan.
Senator Jamal Khan Leghari said that a uniform gas load management was being introduced all over Pakistan now why only Punjab is being singled out. Shariq responded that Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh are gas producing provinces and under the Constitution provision they have taken stay against the gas supply to Punjab. This is the reason of gas shortage in Punjab and the biggest fertiliser plant of the country 'Engro Fertilisers' is closed due to gas shortage.
The Chairman directed the FIA to initiate cases against the persons involved in SNGPL corruption. The committee also took serious note of the embezzlement of billions of rupees by tampering meters of various CNG stations and industries and asked the SNGPL to submit reports regarding the embezzlement being done by CNG stations.
The Director General Gilgit Baltistan Scouts, Brigadier Nadeem gave a detailed briefing about progress and performance of the Scouts to the committee. He said that at present GB Scouts have three wings one is operating under the command of Pakistan Army and deployed on Line of Control (LoC) to protect the Northern Borders of the country, second is in Skardu and third in Gilgit. The GB Scouts is running short of strength as against the strength of 3679 it has only 2480 personnel.
He informed the committee that GB Scouts are being asked to raise a separate wing (wing 4) comprising of 730 personnel, for security of Diamer Bhasha Dam, which needs Rs 575 to 600 million. He said that the Diamer Bhasha Dam is of $12 billion project and the cost of raising 4th wing of GB Scouts is just 0.9 per cent of the project.
He requested the Senate Panel to raise the issue with highest forums for sponsorship of the GB Scouts wing from WAPDA. He said that Chief Minister GB Mehdi Shah has raised the issue with WAPDA but so far nothing came on surface in black and white. Chairman Standing Committee Talha Mehmood praised the efforts of the GB Scouts and recommended the WAPDA for sponsorship for raising the 4th wing of the Scouts for security of mega project.
Brigadier Nadeem also informed the Committee about budget and expenditures of the Scouts saying that the Scouts are running short of personnel and the Committee should recommend the recruitment in the Scouts.
The Senate Panel expressed dismay over the absence of Interior Minister Rehman Malik from the meeting. Chairman Standing Committee directed the Interior Ministry to arrange a comprehensive briefing on a plan of action against the illegal immigrants living in the country.
The committee expressed grief over the terrorist attack at PNS Mehran base in Karachi and directed the Interior Ministry to take action against the people living illegally in the country. The committee also directed the ministry to submit a report about the number of people who are residing without legal documents. Senator Sardar Mohammad Jamal Khan Leghari urged the interior ministry to take action against the people living in Pakistan iillegally as soon as possible. The separate meeting of the standing Committee on Interior would be held soon on the issue.