ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum on Tuesday discussed issues in gas supply and refinery policies and the progress on the Reko Diq mining project.
The committee met under the chairmanship of Senator Umer Farooq.
Members of the committee expressed strong displeasure over the absence of the minister for petroleum and urged that his presence be ensured in future meetings. The committee further noted with concern the culture of ad-hocism within the petroleum ministry and lack of complete data with relevant officers.
Addressing the issue of low gas pressure and prolonged gas outages in Quetta and Sindh, the committee questioned the performance of Sui Southern Gas Company and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited. The committee reiterated the constitutional obligation under Article 158 of the Constitution, which mandates the provision of natural gas to the provinces where it is produced. Chairman Senator Umer Farooq highlighted that Quetta faces a complete absence of gas even during daytime, severely affecting daily life.
Officials from the Petroleum Ministry briefed the committee that a nationwide gas shutdown from 10:00 pm to 5:00 Am is currently in place as a load management measure. The Secretary of the Petroleum Ministry informed the Committee about the ongoing rehabilitation of gas pipelines in Sindh and Balochistan, intended to improve gas supply. He also highlighted the issue of tampered gas meters and the use of suction compressors in Quetta, which restricts gas supply to tail-end consumers. The Chair directed that these issues be resolved permanently, ensuring
effective measures against tampering and unrestrained usage.
The Senate’s panel received a detailed briefing on the RekoDiq project. The Secretary of the Petroleum Ministry informed that around 20% of the ground work has been completed and assured the Committee that the project would commence production by the end of 2028. The Chair expressed concern over the absence of a representative from Barrick, the operator of RekoDiq, and directed that an operational team member must attend future meetings. The Secretary also invited the Committee for an on-ground visit to the project site.
Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti raised queries regarding Barrick’s CSR initiatives in Balochistan. The Committee was informed about ongoing projects for the provision of safe drinking water and educational facilities in the area. The Chair also questioned the training of 27 youth from Balochistan at international institutions, directing the Ministry to provide the selection criteria for these trainings. He further emphasized that local communities must receive maximum employment opportunities from the project.
The panel reviewed the administrative affairs of Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (JJVL) and directed the concerned officials to provide a detailed briefing with a historical background during the next meeting.
The Senate’s body also examined the implementation of previous directives regarding Kerosene, LDO, and Solvents. The Chair expressed concern over reports of these products being mixed with petrol, causing harmful environmental impacts. The Committee noted dissatisfaction over incomplete data and instructed OGRA and DG (Oil) to issue a final warning and cancel the marketing licenses of companies that continue non-compliance.
The Director General (Oil) briefed the Committee on Greenfield and Brownfield Refinery Policies. Members expressed concern over low investment in this potentially lucrative sector due to issues related to sales tax policy. The chair directed that the Finance Ministry and Petroleum Ministry jointly attend the next meeting to develop an investment-friendly sales tax framework.
The committee also took up an employee-related matter of the OGDCL and directed the authorities to address the issue and submit a detailed report following its resolution.
Senator Hidayatullah and Senator Abdul Wassy raised concerns regarding new gas connections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). The ministry assured the Committee that the matter is being addressed and informed that new connections are being installed on a routine basis, with approximately 70% of new gas connection requests already processed and gas meters installed in KPK.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025