Islamabad, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar pinpointed massive meter tampering and gas theft as the primary causes of overbilling by the Sui Gas Company in Balochistan, particularly in Quetta. Addressing the Parliament today, Minister Tarar responded to concerns raised through a Calling Attention Notice by Haji Jamal Shah Kakar about the disproportionate gas bills affecting the residents.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Law Minister disclosed that losses in the Quetta region approximate fifty-five percent, underlining the severity of the issue. He assured the assembly that the government is actively working to resolve these challenges to alleviate the burden on consumers.

In response to another Calling Attention Notice, the Minister informed the Parliament about the allocation of approximately 960 million rupees by the National Highway Authority for the maintenance and repair of the Chakdara-Upper Dir road. He anticipated that the maintenance work would be completed by the end of the following month, improving infrastructure and transportation in the region.

Furthermore, Minister Tarar laid the “Seed (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024” before the House, continuing the government’s effort to refine agricultural legislation. Additionally, the House passed the “Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” aimed at addressing the backlog of appeals pending before the Commissioner Inland Revenue (Appeals) and the Appellate Tribunals. This legislation intends to expedite the resolution of cases holding up two trillion rupees in litigation, thus potentially releasing a significant amount of revenue for the government.

The session concluded with the prorogation of the House, marking the end of this legislative meeting with significant developments reported in fiscal and consumer affairs.