ISLAMABAD: Pakistan suffers an estimated Rs60 billion annual loss due to gas theft and leakage, officials revealed at a National Assembly Standing Committee on Petroleum meeting chaired by Syed Mustafa Mahmood.
Committee members, including Gul Asghar Khan, highlighted that the financial burden ultimately falls on the public, while calling for privatization of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and Sui Southern Gas Company to improve efficiency.
SNGPL Managing Director Aamir Tufail reported a 5.27% loss due to theft and leakage, costing about Rs30 billion annually, below OGRA’s target. Meanwhile, SSGC MD Amin Rajput stated that their losses, also near Rs30 billion, have been reduced from 17% to 10%.
Lawmaker Syed Naveed Qamar expressed concern over rising circular debt in the gas sector, currently at Rs3,283 billion, including Rs1,452 billion in late payment surcharges, warning of a looming financial crisis.
The meeting also discussed potential economic opportunities from lithium deposits in regions such as Gilgit-Baltistan and Kotli, and proposed a development budget exceeding Rs4 billion for petroleum sector institutions in the next fiscal year.
