The collection of 50 billion rupees in gas bills from the industrial sector has emerged as a serious concern for Pakistan’s business community, according to Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). During a meeting at the FPCCI Secretariat in Islamabad, the issue was raised with Masroor Ahmed Khan, Chairman of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), alongside discussions about other major challenges facing industry.
The meeting was attended by representatives from industries across the country, OGRA members, and other stakeholders. Atif Ikram Sheikh briefed the OGRA chairman on the growing difficulties faced by Pakistan’s industrial sector, with a particular focus on the recent imposition of billions of rupees in overdue gas bills by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL). He warned that such heavy liabilities pose a significant threat to the survival and operation of many businesses.
Sheikh called for decisive action to put the industry back on the right track. He stressed the need for policies that would enable industrial revival while minimizing undue financial pressure on manufacturing concerns.
Chairman OGRA, Masroor Ahmed Khan, responded by emphasizing the importance of collaboration between regulatory bodies, the business community, and other stakeholders to address these issues. He noted the pivotal role that industry plays in solving the country’s economic challenges and assured participants that OGRA, as the sector’s regulator, is committed to protecting the interests of both industrial and domestic consumers. Khan reiterated that OGRA is actively taking steps to reduce the additional financial burden on consumers and is working to ensure fair and balanced regulation across the gas sector.
