While rejecting an inquiry report into billions of rupees pilferage of gas and petroleum products by petroleum companies, a sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed the petroleum ministry to initiate afresh departmental inquiry to fix responsibility and submit a report by May 13.
The sub-committee under the chair of Naveed Qamar noted that gas and petroleum products worth more than Rs 134 billion had been stolen in the last three years allegedly by two oil companies in connivance with the ministry officials but the petroleum ministry has failed to identify characters involved the theft to fix responsibility.
Petroleum Secretary Arshad Miza told the sub-committee that the inquiry report of scandal had been submitted to the petroleum ministry. He said the committee members also visited Tal oil field in Kohat to inquire the pilferage issue. The inquiry report claimed that pipelines carrying gas and oil have been drilled at several places causing leakage. According to the report, several cases have been registered against unidentified persons. The sub-committee after perusing the inquiry report asked the petroleum ministry to initiate an internal inquiry into the matter and submit the report by May 13.
