LAHORE, April 19: Gas supply to the residential colonies of the Pakistan Railways is likely to be disconnected for the organisation has not paid late payment surcharge to the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL).

The colonies house families of around 70,000 employees of the Pakistan Railways in Punjab and the NWFP.

“The railways owes a sum of Rs228.582 million in late payment surcharge to the SNGPL and if the payment is not made till April 25, gas supply to all the railway colonies and installation will be disconnected,” a gas company spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Railways’ Chief Engineer (North) Ali Hassan Toori expressed surprise over the move of the SNGPL authorities. “Some 10 to 15 days ago, we held a meeting with the SNGPL people after clearing all the dues. The matter pertaining to the late payment surcharge was lying pending for further discussion.”

The spokesperson said a number of recovery notices were issued and two meetings were held with senior railway officers but the payments were not made, said the spokesperson.