News Detail
Event Title: Senator Jam Saifullah Khan, Convener Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum presiding over a meeting of the committee at Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, Head Offce, Islamabad
Event Date: 2026-08-07
The Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum, convened by Senator Jam Saifullah Khan, met to review the implementation of the Prime Minister's Directive dated 15 September 2003 and the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court regarding the provision of natural gas to villages located within a five-kilometre radius of gas-producing fields.
The meeting was attended by Senators, Manzoor Ahmed Kakar and Haji Hidayatullah Khan. Senior representatives of the Petroleum Division, Finance Division, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL), SNGPOil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Mari Energies and other relevant stakeholders.
Following detailed deliberations, the Sub-Committee unanimously agreed to accord top priority to the gasification of the remaining 42 villages situated within the prescribed five-kilometre radius of the Badar Gas Field, District Ghotki. The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 617 million.
The Special Secretary, Petroleum Division, Finance Division and Chairman, OGRA assured the Committee that an initial allocation of Rs. 200 million would be released from the Rs. 1 billion funds to immediately commence implementation of the Badar Gas Field, District Ghotki gasification project.
The Managing Director, SSGCL informed the Committee that the company would contribute its share of the required funding and immediately initiate all technical, engineering and procurement activities necessary for execution of the project. It was agreed that project mobilization would begin within ten days of the release of the initial funds.
The Petroleum Division and Finance Division further assured the Committee that the remaining funds required for completion of the project would be arranged without interruption to ensure timely completion of the entire scheme.
During the meeting, the Petroleum Division informed the Committee that comprehensive policy guidelines are being finalized for implementation of the Prime Minister's Directive and the Hon'ble Supreme Court's directions concerning the gasification of villages located within five kilometers of gas-producing fields. The finalized policy framework will be presented before the Committee at its next meeting following consultations with all relevant stakeholders.
The Petroleum Division also undertook to present, at the next meeting, a comprehensive implementation framework covering the finalized policy guidelines, funding mechanism for all remaining eligible villages across Pakistan, stakeholder-wise financial commitments, district-wise implementation schedule and definite timelines for completion.
The Sub-Committee decided that progress on all commitments made during the meeting would be reviewed at its next sitting. It emphasized that all concerned ministries, regulatory bodies and companies must honour their commitments and take the necessary administrative, financial and regulatory measures to ensure the expeditious implementation of the Prime Minister's Directive of 15 September 2003 and the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court.
The Committee appreciated the constructive commitments made by the Chairman, OGRA, the Secretaries of the Petroleum and Finance Divisions, the Managing Director of SSGCL and all participating stakeholders towards resolving this long-pending public issue. It stressed that these assurances must now translate into tangible progress and that no further avoidable delay should occur in extending natural gas to villages located within the prescribed five-kilometre radius of gas-producing fields.
The Sub-Committee further directed that the assurances and commitments made by the Chairman, OGRA, Secretary, Petroleum Division, Secretary, Finance Division and Managing Director, SSGCL during the meeting shall form part of the official record of the proceedings and shall constitute the basis for reviewing compliance at the next meeting of the Sub-Committe