CNG station relocation: OGRA officials accused of taking bribes

Some members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources accused Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) officials of taking Rs 4 to 5 million in bribes for approving CNG station relocation. According to the official documents available with Business Recorder, the committee observed that there has been rampant corruption in OGRA.
The committee also sought an explanation from the officials concerned to present all relevant records and explain the circumstances which led to the relocation of CNG stations. One of the members accused OGRA of giving extension licenses of CNG stations in 37 cases.
The Chairman has issued directives to present a complete record of such licences. The committee directed OGRA to prepare a report within two days on Sheikh Aftab Ahmad, MNA, who also allegedly received an extension in a CNG station licence. Acting Chairman OGRA (Mansoor Muzafar Ali) gave a detailed briefing to the Committee on the licensing procedure, extension of CNG provisional licenses, breakup of 306 licences issued in 2009-2010 and 160 licenses issued in 2010-2011 along with restatement of CNG stations.
He informed the committee that the then Prime Minister had imposed a ban in February 2008, on the issuance of new provisional licences for setting up CNG stations, except those where the relevant no-objection certificate (NOC) had been obtained and some investment put in place.
Moreover, he said that CNG provisional licenses for construction were initially granted for a period of two years under rule 6(i) of the CNG rules, 1992, and marketing licenses issued for a period of 15 years. He briefed the Committee about the licensing procedure which includes the provisional licenses, NOC, third party verification of work and marketing licenses.
He informed the committee that 9 provisional licenses were issued in Balochistan while 151 marketing licenses were issued in 2010-11 all over the country. Defining re-sitement as the shifting of CNG station/site from one place to another, he added that 47 cases of re-sitement had since been carried out.
The committee also criticised the gas loadshedding policy and noted that the gas supply position in Punjab was worse due to diversion of 100 mmcfd gas from Qadirpur field to Engro fertiliser plant. The committee directed the Ministry to implement the gas distribution formula and take measures to stop gas theft. The Ministry requested the committee for greater co-operation towards approval of gas theft law from the Parliament.