ISLAMABAD -  Managing Director Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Company Limited (SNGPL) Amjad Latif has said that the shortfall of SNGPL has reached 700 MMCFD due to increase in demand of gas.

The demand of the gas in the morning and evening has jumped up which has increased the demand-supply gap to 700 MMCFD, Managing Director Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Company Limited (SNGPL) Amjad Latif told the newsmen after the meeting of the sub-committee of the Senate standing committee on energy. He said that the second LNG terminal is more likely to be completed by November 28 which will increase the gas supply by 650 MMCFD.

The gas supply to the power plants will resume Tuesday which will help to reduce the loadshedding, he added. Amjad Latif said that SNGPL is providing gas to seven power plants including Nandipur,Bhiki,Baloki etc.

Earlier, the sub-committee meeting, which was chaired by Senator Nisar Khan, expressed concern over non-provision of natural gas in different localities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) especially of gas producing districts and five kilometer radius of gas producing wells on priority basis.

The meeting the Sub-Committee on Energy underlined the need for judicious utilization of development funds in oil and gas producing districts in order to ensure fair-play in launching gas supply schemes.

Managing Director SNGPL informed the committee that the company is just executing body as it can initiate gas supply schemes only after approval of the government.

The committee was briefed on development funds allocated through Prime Minister’s directives for supply of gas to various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during last two years.

Senator Nisar said the gas should be provided to nearby localities, if no village falls within five kilometer radius of the production facility, adding that there should be no political motives behind approval or rejection of any scheme. The MD apprised the committee about various ongoing schemes being carried out in different localities of KP including Bannu, Merobak, Karsha Banda, Ketch, Hayatabad, Hangu and Daropazai Palwasha. Amjad Latif said that lying of 106 kilometer Mardan-Swat gas pipeline was in full swing as SNGPL had completed 49 percent work on the project.

The company’s cost of construction was less expensive as compared to other national and international firms and its quality was of international standards, he claimed. The MD said SNGPL regularly carried out system augmentation work in all regions without any discrimination and rectify complaints with regard to low gas pressure. The Managing Director also submitted details of contract and daily wage employees working in different ongoing projects in KP along with their CNICs and place of posting for the last three years. The meeting was attended by Senators Baz Muhammad Khan and Taj Muhammad Afridi, senior officials of the Petroleum and Natural Resources Division and regional managers of SNGPL from KP.