ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) President Dr Murtaza Mughal has accused the gas companies of preferring brokers’ interests over consumers.
Dr Muraza, in a statement, said that gas distribution companies are reluctant to abide by the decisions of Ogra taken in the interests of masses. He said that all the directives to fix issues like overbilling have been ditched in favour of shareholders and some brokers.
The PEW president said that insistence of the gas utilities to increase UFG (unaccounted for gas) is nothing but effort to benefit shareholders at the cost of masses. He said that law and order situation has always remained normal in Karak but gas worth one billion is stolen which is not possible without involvement of gas officials. Similarly, he said, honest consumers are made to pay for the gas theft in Balochistan and elsewhere which must be stopped.
Distributors accept theft of Rs30 billion per annum while the situation on the ground is different which must be controlled. He said that ratio of UFG is one percent at present while it is over seven percent in Pakistan and bureaucracy is trying to push it to 14 percent.
