Gas consumers to be compensated in their bills: Ghulam Sarwar Khan.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 06 (APP):Federal Minister for petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan Wednesday informed the Senate that gas consumers would be compensated in their bills during months of March and April.
He was responding to the calling attention notice of Senator Kalsoom Parveen, Senator Moula Bux Chandio and Senator Sassui Palijo.
He appreciated the leaders of opposition parties for taking up the issue of public importance in the Upper house.
Giving the background of losses in both SNGPL and SSGPL, the minster said the total loss of the companies was Rs 147 billion ,besides a gas theft of Rs 56 billion and Rs 49 billion every year.
He criticized the previous government for approving development funds of Rs 55 billion for gasification which according to him was a pre poll rigging.
“We were compelled to increase the price as we had no other choice” said the minister adding “Prime Minster sacked the GM of SNGPL for the same reason and many are being investigated,”.He said the Prime Minster constituted a committee on over billing to be headed by Additional Secretary and It was revealed that OGRA had applied pressure factor since 2007 at the rate of 1.092 which amounts to 2% of total usage of gas.
It was found as a result of the probe that both the companies were charging pressure factor at the rate 7% from the consumer, the minister told the house.
He further said some 10000 bills were checked out of which 3300 were overcharged which means that 50% illegal pressure factor was charged from the consumers.