Islamabad: A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum was convened at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Umer Farooq to discuss issues related to the national stock position of petroleum products, gas supply challenges, LPG pricing concerns, and the suspension of CNG supply in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to Senate of Pakistan, the meeting was attended by several senators, including Qurat-ul-Ain Marri, Saifullah Abro, Saadia Abbasi, Hidayatullah Khan, Jam Saifullah Khan, Amir Waliuddin Chishti, and Manzoor Ahmed. The Committee received briefings on the current stocks and import positions of crude oil, petrol, diesel, LNG, and LPG. The Federal Minister for Petroleum informed the Committee that regional conflicts, particularly the US-Iran situation, had impacted imports, prompting the government to prioritize critical sectors, such as diverting gas to urea production units to prevent a fertilizer crisis.
The Committee was briefed on the import shares of petroleum products and discussed the recent increase in petroleum prices, which appeared to benefit Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) despite existing stocks. The Minister for Petroleum explained that the price adjustments were made to provide fiscal space for OMCs amid international market volatility. An LNG cargo was reported to be arriving at Karachi Port, and a comprehensive audit of OMCs was urged to assess financial gains post-price hike. A joint stock-monitoring mechanism was established to be reviewed fortnightly.
Further discussions addressed the government’s prioritization of uninterrupted domestic gas supply, particularly during meal preparation. Concerns over prolonged gas outages in Balochistan were raised. Rising LPG prices and the disparity between official and market rates prompted directives for strict action against overpricing. The Committee addressed the issue of gas connections in gas-producing areas, with officials attributing delays to funding constraints, despite directives from the Prime Minister and Supreme Court.
The Committee also reviewed the PMDC Board of Governors’ selection process and questioned the varying charges imposed by PMDC on coal mining contractors. The suspension of CNG supply in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was discussed, with restoration linked to RLNG imports impacted by regional conflicts. Questions were raised about natural gas allocation to RLNG-based power plants in Punjab compared to other provinces, with the Chairman requesting a complete priority framework.
Senator Manzoor Ahmed presented the Sub-Committee’s report to the Standing Committee, highlighting ongoing issues and proposed actions.