ISLAMABAD, June 11: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Chaudhry Nouraiz Shakoor has said a gas pipeline is being laid from Rawat to Kallar Syedan and the work is expected to be completed by June 30 this year.

In a written reply to a question in the National Assembly on Wednesday, the minister said, though the work was about to complete, it was subject to the permission from Pakistan Railways for crossing railway line for gas supply to the residents of Kallar Syedan.

Replying to another question, raised by MNA Mian Mohammad Aslam, the minister stated that there were 18 localities or villages in NA-48 constituency where Sui gas had not been provided.

The minister also identified the areas, which were without the gas supply in the constituency. These are Tarnol, Sarai Kharbooza, Sangjani, Dhoke Malyaran Amarabad Jhangi, Dhoke Qureshian Jhangi, Badia Qadar Bukhsh, Shah Allah Ditta, Samarabad Jhangi Syedan, Bhadana, Maira Jafar, Jori Rajgan, Nogazi, Noon, Kalangar, Sarai Sandori, Dora, Ghandian and Surian.

He further said at present there was no plan to supply gas to these villages due to financial constraint. However, the SNGPL can undertake laying of gas main in these villages during subsequent fiscal year if a soft-term loan of Rs93.78 million was provided to the company repayable in eight years at the rate of two per cent per annum, he added.

Besides these villages, there are four localities in the same constituency, which have been provided gas partially. These are Sultan Nagar Jhangi, Jhangi Syedan, Golra and back side of the EME College.

Meanwhile, in response to a question, the minister said gas had not been supplied to the residents of Railways Housing Society, Lohi Bher, adjacent to Gulzar-i-Quaid, due to the reason that estimated cost to provide gas to the said housing society was Rs4.53 million and as a policy “the gas company undertakes laying of gas main in privately-developed colonies, if 100 per cent cost is paid by the developing agency.

Minister for Communications Ahmed Ali in response to a question through a written reply told the National Assembly that the total expenditure incurred on plantation along the Islamabad- Lahore Motorway upto May 14, 2003 was Rs96.92 million. Giving details, he said plantation was being done in National Highway Authority’s “right of way” on either sides, including link roads from Faizpur interchange besides junction with GT Road near Islamabad.