Ogra, SNGPL directed to evolve plan for natural gas supply to people.

PESHAWAR -- The Peshawar High Court on Thursday directed Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines and other stakeholders to evolve a joint plan for provision of natural gas to domestic consumers in the province and submit a report in this regard.

A bench consisting of PHC Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan and Justice Abdul Shakoor observed that owing to mushroom growth of CNG stations, the domestic consumers were suffering.

The bench fixed May 9 for next hearing of a petition against the outages and low pressure of natural gas supplied to domestic consumers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The petition has been filed by Advocate Abbas Khan Sangeen, who has requested the court to declare gas loadshedding and low pressure unconstitutional and illegal.

Domestic consumers suffer owing to mushroom growth of CNG stations, court observes

The bench observed that the domestic consumers had been facing shortage of gas while quarters the concerned were supplying it to CNG stations. The bench further observed that at least two CNG stations were set up after each kilometre on main roads.

Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority Chairman Masroor Khan informed the bench that the authority was only issuing licences to CNG stations and not providing natural gas to it.

He said that no licence was issued for setting up of new station from 2011 till 2020. However, he added that after 2020, only 43 new licences were issued in accordance with the government policy.

The Ogra chairman said that provision of natural gas was the responsibility of SNGPL. He added that unless NOC was issued by the company, Ogra could not issue a licence for establishment of a CNG station. The bench also inquired as to who was fixing CNG retail price.

The Ogra chairman said that till 2016 the authority had the power to do so, however, now the decision had to be taken by CNG Association. The bench wondered as to how free hand could be...