ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik said that the existing system of gas subsidies via pricing slabs needs to be revisited, emphasized the need to transition to a single fair gas price for all consumers.
The minister chaired a meeting with the Chairman and Board of Directors, Managing Director and senior management of SSGCL in Karachi to review the company’s performance, key achievements, operational challenges and future reform priorities.
He stressed that vulnerable segments should be protected through targeted social protection programmes. This transition would spur greater economic activity while quelling migration of customers to alternative fuels.
He has directed the Board of Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) to develop a comprehensive strategy and sustainable business model with special focus on UFG control to transform SSGCL into a financially viable organization, with public service as the foremost priority.
The management highlighted a significant improvement in the company’s gas distribution system, with UFG reduced by approximately 57 percent in volumetric terms. The meeting was informed that there is no gas load shedding for K-Electric, industrial consumers and fertilizer plants, while domestic consumers are being provided gas three times a day. Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik highlighted that gas prices have not been increased for the past one year, while the increase in gas circular debt has nearly been stopped, marking important progress towards stabilization of the gas sector.
He urged the SSGCL Board to formulate a comprehensive business reform strategy focused on making the company self-sustaining, improving operational efficiency, HR capabilities, reducing losses and gas theft, strengthening revenue recovery and ensuring better utilization of resources.
