ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) postponed its meeting on Friday due to lack of quorum but directed the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to ensure supply of gas and provision of meters to residents.

The committee met under Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Noor Alam Khan to review audit objections of the Power Division and Ogra for the year 2019-2020.

MNA Barjees Tahir complained that while gas pipelines were laid in all provinces, relevant authorities were delaying installation of gas meters.

“This situation is in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said Barjees Tahir. In support of his colleague, MNA Sheikh Rohale Asghar wondered if the government was able to meet demands of existing customers.

“Industries are shutting down due to shortage and huge gap between supply and demand of gas across the country,” the MNA complained.

The meeting expressed displeasure with senior officials of the power ministry for being ill-prepared and unable to respond to questions from members.

Noor Alam Khan feared that delays in installing meters would encourage gas theft.

Nonetheless, some of the audit objections of the Petroleum Division pertained to non-realisation of gas development surcharge of Rs20.6 billion, loss of royalty due to non-recovery of

Rs435.32 million, non-realisation of royalty and fine on late payment of royalty amounting to Rs344.9 million and delay in development fields from 1989 to 2016 (Rs69.4 billion).

Other irregularities included unlawful production of petroleum products after expiry of lease of Rs18.47 billion pertaining to Ogra, loss incurred due to curtailment of production worth Rs2.39 billion and loss of Rs2.06 billion due to unlawful flaring of gas.

Out of the 14 paras already settled, the Power Division recommended another 39 paras for settlement.

The Power Division informed the meeting that 11 cases worth Rs15.412 billion were being resolved through courts.

Before concluding the meeting, chairman Noor Alam Khan directed that all decisions taken in the departmental accounts committees be implemented.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2023