Sindh CM’s intervention stopped govt from raising gas tariff

ISLAMABAD: Timely intervention of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah stopped Federal Government from increasing gas tariff, it has been learnt.

Quoting unnamed sources, Geo News reported that the chief minster called Federal Minister  for Finance Asad Umar Monday and informed him that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has no authority to raise gas tariff. 

Only the  Council of Common Interest (CCI) is empowered to take decsion in this regard, he conveyed to the minister.

Later, briefing the media Minister for Information, Fawad Chaudhry said the meeting discussed in detail the matter of gas price.

“In 2013, Sui Northern and Sui Southern Gas Pipe Lines were not in loss even of a single rupee, however during previous five years, total loss of SSGPL and SNGPL surged to over Rs 156 billion mainly due to increase in gas theft,” he added.

“We are trying to formulate a comprehensive system to minimize burden on the poor by providing maximum relief to them,” he added.

The information minister said the matter of subsidies would also be presented before Prime Minister Imran Khan.