LPG air-mix plants: Senate body expresses dismay over SSGC briefing

Expressing dissatisfaction over a briefing given by Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) officials on setting up liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) air-mix plants, Senate's Functional Committee on Problems of Less-Developed Areas, on Tuesday, sought another briefing in its next meeting.
The committee which met here with Senator Usman Khan Kakar in the chair discussed the importance of setting up liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) air-mix plants at district level across the country to help resolve the low gas pressure and the commodity shortage issue.
Kakar observed that LPG mixture plants in Khuzdar and Musa Khail were not installed due to political reasons, while the places where they are being installed did not need them.
The SSGC officials said that new gas connections to domestic consumers will be given on their turn, as currently there is a ban on new schemes. After the import of LNG, they said, the consumers will be offered gas connections under the policy set by the government.
About the incidents of gas-theft in Balochistan, Kakar said that it is the responsibility of the state, and FIRs should be registered against those involved in the heinous act. "The people who are paying bills must not be punished in freezing cold as the temperatures goes below minus 10 degree centigrade in some areas," he added.
The committee also decided to write a letter to the prime minister for seeking fund for provision of gas to the less-developed areas, including Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).
The survey for providing gas to some less-developed areas, including Bajaur Agency, has been completed, but due to lack of funds, the process of providing gas connections was being delayed. An official of the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) told the committee about situation of underground water level in Quetta, saying it may lead to water crisis if measures to resolve the issue were not taken on war-footing basis. "It was because of faulty planning that forests and rainwater could not be preserved in Balochistan and as such Khushdil Khan Dam, Spin Karez and several other water projects were not being upgraded," he opined. The committee sought a detailed briefing from the GSP officials in its next meeting for recommending immediate measures in this regard.