LAHORE: Pakistan’s Energy, Power, and Petroleum Minister Muhammad Ali, announced on Friday that construction work on the multi-billion dollar Pak-Iran gas pipeline has been initiated.
The minister revealed this news during a media briefing after inaugurating the first Model Customer Service Centre of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) at its Regional Office on Gurumangat Road.
Energy Minister Muhammad Ali noted a 20 percent decrease in natural gas compared to the previous year. He stated that the government would make efforts to manage gas load-shedding during the winter season. However, he emphasized that the government could not provide gas at lower rates after purchasing it at higher costs, urging people to use natural gas wisely.
Pakistan Oil Refinery Capacity
Responding to a question regarding Russian oil, Muhammad Ali mentioned that only one cargo had arrived on a trial basis, but the challenge was refining it. Currently, only the Pakistan Oil Refinery is capable of refining 46,000 tons of oil monthly, while the demand far exceeds this capacity. The government was exploring options to engage private refineries to meet the increasing demand. He also stated that the government is actively working on importing more Russian oil and resolving refinery-related issues to provide maximum relief to the public.
The minister highlighted that only 9% of Pakistan’s GDP is contributed by taxpayers, which is among the lowest figures globally. He emphasized that people would experience relief when tax collection improves.
The newly inaugurated Model Customer Service Centre features 14 counters, offering services such as new connection applications, change of ownership, reconnection requests, billing inquiries, and more. Citizens can also access facilities for duplicate payment slips, security refunds, and bill corrections. Additionally, a help desk has been established to provide guidance on energy conservation and safety measures.
The event was attended by Managing Director SNGPL Amir Tufail, Deputy MD Saqib Arbab, Senior General Manager Distribution Qaiser Masood, and other officials.
