The Minister of State for Energy, Mossadegh Malik, while supporting the increase in gas prices, has said that if the country wants to develop, the gas prices should be increased in any case.
While speaking in the Senate session, Mossadegh Malik said that gas prices should be increased in any case, keeping the inflation in front, no burden has been placed on the people, but this burden is coming on the national treasury.
He said that 1600 mmcfd gas is being produced in Pakistan, only 1400 mcfd to Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) for burning stoves. MCFD gas is required, additional gas connections can be given on LNG which is very expensive. Consultation with the members is in progress.
He said that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has suggested that no further burden can be placed on the national exchequer.
He criticized and said that the Ogra Act was changed during the tenure of PTI Chairman Imran Khan which should not have been changed.
Note that on 11 January 2023
Both the companies had requested the price increase from OGRA which was approved by Sui Southern and Sui Northern gas companies to increase the gas prices by 74.42 and 75.35 percent respectively. will be applicable from July 2022, in this regard, Soi Northern has requested an increase of Rs.1294.02 and Soi Southern has requested Rs.667.44 per mmbtu.
Price increase This decision was sent to the federal government, which is bound to give recommendations to the regulatory body in this regard in the next 40 days regarding the minimum rates of gas and the price of gas for each category of retail consumers.
If the federal government does not submit recommendations in the next 40 days, then the notification of the gas rates determined by OGRA will be issued.
OGRA had said in its decision that the federal government should ensure that the price of gas sales is not less than the financial requirements of the companies determined by OGRA.
Navy is occupying the lands of poor people of Balochistan, Senator Naseema Ehsan
independent senator from Balochistan. Naseema Ehsan while speaking in the Senate said that we thought that if the Navy or any other organization comes to Balochistan, then we will consider ourselves safe and the province will develop.
He said that now there are such situations that the Navy is occupying the lands of the poor people of Balochistan. Senator Naseema Ehsan said that they thought that we will solve the problem by talking but it did not happen, the people there are ready to protest, they say now we will protest against Navy.
He said that the complaints of the people should be heard, the issue of land occupation by the Navy should be entrusted to the committee.
Chairman Senate sent the matter of seizure of lands by the Navy to the concerned committee. Details of funds used for the Prime Minister's Office Presented in N
In addition, the details of funds allocated and used for the Prime Minister's Office during the last 3 years were presented in the Senate session.
According to the documents, a budget of one billion 17 crore rupees was allocated for the Prime Minister's Office and the expenses of the Prime Minister's Office were more than 90 crore rupees.
According to the documents available to Dawn, during the year 2019-20, a budget of 38.8 million rupees was allocated for the Prime Minister's Office, while 31.5 million rupees were used.
In addition, in the year 2020-21, 389 million rupees were allocated while 30 million were used and during 2021-22, 401 million rupees were allocated while 384 million were used.