Gujar Khan, In a significant development for higher education in the Pothohar region, the University of Punjab has initiated classes at its new Pothohar Campus in Gujar Khan. This milestone was announced during a press conference by Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf alongside the Director of the University of Punjab Pothohar Campus.
According to National Assembly of Pakistan, Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf lauded this achievement as a long-awaited demand of the Gujar Khan community, now realized. The campus, destined to sprawl over 800 kanals at Bowli in Gujar Khan, has secured a Rs4 billion budget for its establishment. Until the construction is completed, classes will be temporarily held at the Government MC Boys High Secondary School in Gujar Khan.
Speaker Ashraf expressed his personal satisfaction at the realization of his long-cherished dream with the campus’s opening. He highlighted the campus’s strategic importance, offering access to quality higher education for the youth from not only the Pothohar region but also from Mirpur Azad Kashmir, Chakwal, Jhelum, Dodiyal, Kallar Syedan, Murree, Kahuta, and other areas of Azad Kashmir. Ashraf underscored his commitment to equipping the region’s youth with modern education and ensuring the provision of all basic facilities to the people of Gujar Khan. He assured that the university’s establishment marks the beginning of numerous development and prosperity projects aimed at the welfare of the Gujar Khan populace.
Islamabad, The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has completed its review of the Estimated Revenue Requirement (ERR) for the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) for the fiscal year 2023-24. This critical step, conducted under Section 8(2) of the OGRA Ordinance, 2002, is part of the regulatory process to ensure the financial sustainability of gas utilities while considering consumer interests.
According to Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, OGRA has forwarded its determinations to the Federal Government to receive category-wise natural gas sale price advice as mandated by Section 8(3) of the OGRA Ordinance. For SNGPL, the summary of revenue requirement determinations revealed a significant difference between the company’s demand and OGRA’s allowance for FY 2023-24. While SNGPL requested an average increase in the prescribed price by 138%, OGRA approved a more conservative 36% increase.
The determination highlighted a contentious issue regarding the financial impact of previous years’ revenue shortfall, amounting to approximately Rs. 422,552 million. OGRA’s calculation slightly deviates from SNGPL’s claimed Rs. 427,830 million shortfall, prompting a referral to the Federal Government for a policy decision. This shortfall has not been included in the current determination, indicating a pending decision on this matter.
The comparison for SSGCL’s revenue requirements followed a similar procedure, with OGRA requesting the Federal Government’s advice on category-wise sale prices for consumers. Until the government provides this advice, the existing natural gas sale prices will remain effective.
OGRA’s determinations aim to balance the financial needs of the gas utilities with the economic impact on consumers. The authority has made the details of its decision regarding the revenue requirements of these utilities available on its official website, signaling transparency in its regulatory processes.