SNGPL authorities directed to prepare plan for provision of gas to FATA

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Barrister Masood Kausar has directed the SNGPL authorities to prepare a comprehensive plan for provision of natural gas to FATA.
Presiding over a meeting at the Governor’s House on Wednesday to review the progress on the project of provision of gas to FATA under the prime minister’s directive, he said the entire FATA region should be surveyed on technical grounds rather than selected areas. “There should be a proper master plan, identifying the areas to be provided this common utility gradually and on priority basis,” he stressed.
The governor emphasised that survey and feasibility should be simultaneously carried out, directing the FATA Secretariat to ensure foolproof security and other assistance to the field staff.
FATA Acting Additional Chief Secretary Shah Sahib, SNGPL Peshawar General Manager Muhammad Haroon and SNGPL Chief Engineer Muhammad Ashraf Nadeem attended the meeting.
The KP governor was also given a presentation on the progress so far made in this respect and was informed that 150 kilometres of transmission line and 150 km of distribution line would be required to implement the prime minister’s directive. He said the total estimated cost of the project was Rs 3 billion against the declared amount of Rs 1 billion.
The meeting was told that certain areas had been surveyed with the required transmission and distribution network proposed including certain areas in Peshawar, Khyber Agency, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Kohat and North Waziristan. The governor said the security situation in FATA was not as alarming now as was being perceived. “Security problem is more a perception than a reality,” he said, adding that the political administration would provide security and facilitate the survey teams in their respective jurisdictions.
He said the process should be well organised and well coordinated. “There should be a complete plan of action so that on availability of funds it is executed without any hindrance or other technicalities.”
The governor pointed out that gas deposits had also been discovered in FATA and vowed that when gas was procured from those deposits, it would be preferably provided to the Tribal Areas. He directed the FATA Secretariat and the SNGPL to coordinate their efforts and come up with final proposals.