Sui Northern Fails to Provide 72,000 Paid Gas Connections in Five Years, Faces Severe Criticism in National Assembly Committee

Islamabad: The National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has strongly criticized Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) after revelations that the company failed to provide domestic gas connections to 72,000 consumers despite receiving full payments over the past five years.

During a PAC meeting, it was disclosed that thousands of consumers had not only paid the standard connection charges but also deposited additional urgent fees, yet gas meters were never installed at their premises.

According to the audit briefing presented to the committee, SNGPL received 71,892 applications along with prescribed fees. However, service lines were laid at only 3,028 locations, and even there, gas meters were not installed. The committee was further informed that in nearly 14,000 cases, no work was carried out despite consumers paying extra charges for urgent connections.

The PAC expressed serious concern over what it described as mismanagement and negligence in SNGPL’s service delivery. The matter was referred to the Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) for further scrutiny and accountability.

The committee chairman questioned SNGPL officials over their conduct, stating:
“Why do you treat people this way who trust you by making full payments? You collect money immediately but take years to provide services.”

The issue has surfaced at a time when the federal government has recently announced the reopening of new domestic gas connections, raising hopes among consumers who are still waiting for connections they paid for years ago.