PM orders refund of additional payments received from gas consumers

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday directed the gas authorities to return the additional payments received from consumers and to take action against those responsible for dispatching inflated gas bills.

He issued the directives while chairing a high-level meeting regarding excessive bills in Islamabad on Tuesday. The meeting was informed that the initial inquiry found that excessive gas bills were sent to thirty per cent gas consumers.

The premier directed the authorities to probe the matter further in order to bring out the facts. He said that people should be kept aware of the details of this matter.

Earlier this month, inflated gas bills were sent to consumers across the country which drew criticism from consumers who decried the excessive burden being placed on the masses by the incumbent government. Following the backlash, the prime minister took notice of the incident and ordered the formation of an inquiry committee. Subsequently, a four-member committee had been constituted to look into the matter in depth.

The committee, headed by Additional Secretary Petroleum Sher Afghan Khan, was tasked to review the 30-day billing process while taking into consideration the increased price slab which was recently introduced by the government. The committee was also asked to suggest any rationalisation in view of the unprecedented increase in domestic gas bills. Other members of the committee were Shahid Yousaf, Imran Ahmed and manager of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL).