SSGCL executives, staff: PAC concerned at payment of over ‘Rs1.6bn’

ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Convener Syed Naveed Qamar, on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the payment of more than Rs 1.6 billion in bonuses to executives and staff of Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL), questioning the legality, transparency and criteria of the payments.

The committee, which reviewed audit objections relating to the Petroleum Division for the period from 2011-12 to 2022-23, took up an audit paras concerning the alleged irregular payment of bonuses exceeding Rs 1.6 billion by SSGC.

During the proceedings, Syed Naveed Qamar questioned the mechanism under which the bonuses were approved and disbursed, asking the company management to explain the applicable rules and eligibility criteria.

“What should be the proper mechanism for awarding bonuses? You make the decisions yourselves, and then you award the bonuses yourselves,” the convener remarked. “Either provide complete details or cite an established example. Routine day-to-day work should not qualify for bonus payments.”

Expressing dissatisfaction over the response furnished by SSGC officials, Qamar further asked the management to disclose who received the bonuses, who did not, and the basis on which the payments were made.

“The Board is also accountable. We need to know who got the bonus, who was left out, and what criteria were applied,” he observed.

Finding the explanation inadequate, the PAC sub-committee deferred the audit objection and directed SSGC to submit comprehensive details of the bonus payments, including the approval process, beneficiaries, and the governing rules, before the matter is taken up again.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026