ISLAMABAD: Federal Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik has issued directives to Sui Gas companies to implement urgent measures aimed at alleviating gas shortages for residential users, amid rising demand driven by harsh winter conditions.
Malik presided over a high-level meeting on Thursday, involving senior officials from Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), to assess the current gas supply status across the country.
Expressing concern over the difficulties faced by households in obtaining adequate gas, Malik emphasized the importance of immediate action to increase supply to domestic consumers, highlighting that providing relief during winter remains the government’s priority.
He instructed that weekly updates on gas demand and supply be compiled and submitted to the Petroleum Division, supported by daily operational monitoring. A comprehensive daily report, shared every morning at 10:00 am, provides real-time data on the previous 24 hours’ gas distribution, facilitating quick corrective measures.
During discussions, the Managing Director of SNGPL updated the participants on the current gas availability. He noted that since January 6, supply has been raised from 691 MMCFD to 746 MMCFD, with additional production from the Shiva gas field increasing from 55 to 65 MMCFD, thereby helping to reduce network pressure.
Malik called on officials to explore all viable options to further support domestic consumers, including the possibility of reallocating gas supplies from the industrial sector to households during the critical winter period, where feasible.The Managing Director of SSGC also reported an improvement in gas supplies following the reactivation of two gas fields, noting an increase of 39 MMCFD in supplies to households compared to the same period last year.
Additionally, discussions are ongoing with industry stakeholders to consider expanding the weekly industrial gas shutdown from one to two days, to prioritize household needs during the winter months.Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik reaffirmed that the government is actively monitoring the situation and remains committed to taking decisive, consumer-centric measures to ensure a stable gas supply throughout the winter season.
