Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, led by Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan, convened to address critical issues, including a deadly LPG bowser explosion in Multan and delays in housing projects. The committee took note of the explosion that resulted in eight fatalities and injuries to 38 individuals, emphasizing the need for urgent action.
According to a statement by Senate of Pakistan, the Chairman of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) highlighted the illegal practice of mixing LPG with carbon dioxide, driven by significant cost differences. The Chairman further disclosed that four individuals involved in the Multan incident had been arrested, and legal proceedings were underway. A similar incident in Dera Ghazi Khan was noted to have occurred without casualties.
Senator Farooq H. Naek criticized the authorities, pointing out the registration of 171 related cases in January as evidence of administrative inefficiency. Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee called for the development of guidelines to prevent unauthorized stops by LPG bowsers.
The committee has established a sub-committee to investigate the hazardous LPG-CO2 mixing and tasked OGRA with developing standard operating procedures to prevent future occurrences.
The meeting also included a briefing from the Chairman of the Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority (NAPHDA) on its progress over the past three years. The authority reported constructing 59,500 homes, yet issues with fund disbursement have delayed delivery in Sargodha and Chiniot. The committee plans to engage with the Finance Ministry to expedite the process and prevent property deterioration.
Further discussions addressed the lack of collaboration with Sindh and Baluchistan provinces on housing projects. The committee intends to reach out to the chief secretaries of both provinces to explore potential cooperation with NAPHDA.
The committee also reviewed the performance of the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA), which was established to enhance agricultural seed quality. Recommendations were made to include parliamentary members in the NSDRA board to ensure broader representation and inclusivity.
The session was attended by several senators and senior officials from relevant departments, who collectively underscored the importance of addressing these pressing issues efficiently.