Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has identified 20 government offices with unpaid gas bills totaling over Rs. 200 million. These public institutions include high-profile buildings like Aiwan-e-Sadr, Parliament House, and the Ministry of Finance. Despite increasing gas tariffs, many of these offices have failed to clear their outstanding dues, raising concerns about accountability and financial management.
Key Defaulters and Outstanding Amounts
| Building | Meter Number | Outstanding Dues (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|
| Parliament Lodges/MNA Hostel | 02210217 | 21,865,808 |
| Parliament Lodges (Second Meter) | N/A | 2,655,735 |
| CDA-H Block Parliament Lodges | CU07014345 | 433,590 |
| Cabinet Division Building | RC01551798 | 23,075,733 |
| Aiwan-e-Sadr (Main Building) | RC01624992 | 11,469,830 |
| Aiwan-e-Sadr Police Barrack-C | CU04060539 | 2,856,192 |
| Aiwan-e-Sadr Barrack-A | CU03044579 | 2,359,717 |
| Foreign Office | RC00843909 | 53,309,209 |
| Pak Secretariat (K-Block) | RC01624958 | 23,579,378 |
| Pak Secretariat (M-Block) | AL0460661 | 24,482,408 |
| Ministry of Finance (Q Block) | N/A | 3,740,602 |
| Pak Secretariat (B/D Block) | N/A | 1,228,515 |
| Other Defaulters | Various | Small amounts |
Reasons for the Dues
The rising cost of gas has been one of the primary reasons for the large outstanding amounts. Gas tariffs have increased significantly in recent months, from Rs. 780 per MMBTU in January 2023 to Rs. 2,900 per MMBTU in February 2024. However, the annual budget allocations for these government offices are usually based on previous years’ figures, with minor increases that are not enough to cover the increased gas costs.
Disconnections and Legal Action
Some government buildings have already faced gas disconnections. For example, the second meter at Parliament Lodges and some meters at the Pak Secretariat have been disconnected due to unpaid bills. SNGPL has expressed concern that if the dues are not cleared soon, they may resort to legal action to recover the amount owed.
What’s Being Done?
SNGPL has reached out to the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) and the government to help recover these outstanding dues. If the amounts are not recovered soon, legal steps may be taken against the defaulting offices.
The issue of unpaid gas bills by government offices is serious, especially considering the huge amounts involved. The increasing cost of gas, combined with the limited budget increases, has made it difficult for some offices to keep up with their dues. With legal action on the horizon, it remains to be seen how quickly these issues will be resolved.
