ISLAMABAD: Finance Ministry has categorically ruled out receiving any directions from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on controlling power and gas theft, saying, nothing officially in this regards has been conveyed to the government.
“However, the government has an understanding with ADB to reduce distribution and transmission losses substantially under the sustainable energy sector reform program” a well placed official source disclosed to this scribe.
Sources said that ADB had not officially asked Pakistani government to control power and gas theft, however, the Power sector has already been working actively to control theft of electricity to maximum extent.
“The government is adamant to control and check energy losses” the source said adding that on the recommendations of the Finance Ministry the government had taken viable steps to prevent theft of electricity which had made considerable influence on the public and restrained the consumers from stealing electricity.
Source said that to reduce the gas theft and losses, the government had promulgated the Gas Theft (Control & Recovery) Ordinance and the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) was in the process to implement a project to reduce Unaccounted For Gas (UFG) under the World Bank funded Natural Gas Efficiency Project (NGEP). “Similarly, the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) is also undertaking a similar project to reduce UFG at their own” the source added.
It is pertinent to note here that the Asian Development Bank aims at an Asia which is free from poverty. Approximately 1.7 billion people in the region are poor and unable to access essential goods, services, assets and opportunities, every human is entitled. ADB has been driven by an inspiration and dedication to improving people’s lives in Asia and the Pacific since 1966. The concept behind this was that by targeting investments wisely in partnership with our developing member countries and other stakeholders poverty could only be alleviated and a world with shared benefits of sustained and inclusive growth be created. The main devices for assistance are loans, grants, policy dialogue, technical assistance and equity investments.
