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Domestic consumers to receive gas eight hours a day in winter

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  • Gas will be provided 3 hours in morning, 2 at noon, 3 at night. 
  • PM desired domestic consumers should be kept on top priority.
  • Commercial consumers to be provided RLNG in Punjab: official. 

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to adjust the gas load management plan under which domestic consumers will receive gas for eight hours a day for cooking times in winter, The News reported Friday. 

The consumers will be provided gas in the morning from 6am to 9am, two hours from 12 noon to 2pm for lunch and three hours from 6pm to 9pm for dinner.

“More importantly, commercial consumers will be provided RLNG in Punjab except for roti tandoors, which will be provided system gas (local gas),” one of the top officials of the Energy Ministry told The News.

“The CNG, fertiliser, cement and non-export industry will be having zero gas supply,” said the official. “If the winter season peaks from December 15 to January 31, the gas supply may be cut off to captive power plants of the export industry and for the power sector, the existing gas supply of 200 mmcfd may be halved.”

He said the gas deficit in the country for the winter season 2022-23 has been worked out at 1.35 bcfd (billion cubic feet gas per day). “It has been worked out that the gas deficit would stay at 900-1,000 mmcfd in the SNGPL system that covers Punjab and KPK. 

The gas availability in the SNGPL system would remain in the range of 1,520 mmcfd (770 mmcfd of local gas plus 750 mmcfd of RLNG) against the demand of 2,100-2,500 mmcfd. The gas consumers in SNGPL stand at 7.5 million (6.5 million in Punjab and 1 million in KPK).”

Likewise, the gas availability in the Sui Southern (SSGCL) system would be in the range of 925-1,000 mmcfd against the demand of 1,250-1,500 mmcfd. The gas deficit in the SSGC system has been estimated in the range of 250-350 mmcfd. 

The gas supply to the CNG, fertiliser, cement, and non-export industries will be zero.

The Petroleum Division has also sought the amount of Rs105 billion for injecting the costly RLNG into the domestic sector for the winter season 2022-23. 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has desired that domestic consumers should be kept on top priority and should be provided gas with pressure. And this is only possible if RLNG is diverted to domestic consumers of Punjab and KPK.

Interestingly, the cost of RLNG, which was earlier diverted to domestic consumers in the last four winters, has not been recovered. The cost of RLNG that has so far been injected into the domestic sector stands at Rs108 billion and this amount has not been recovered. The country’s gas sector is already soaked in circular debt of Rs1,500 billion. The Petroleum Division would put up this case before the premier for approval of Rs105 billion to ensure the diversion of RLNG so that gas to domestic consumers could be provided for cooking times at required pressure.

“Currently, the sale price of natural gas stands at Rs400 per MMBTU whereas the RLNG cost is at $13 per MMBTU (Rs3,100). The Petroleum Division wants the differential to be paid by consumers through the revenue requirements of gas utilities.”

Under the amended act, RLNG is no longer called a petroleum product but has been renamed as a gas of which the cost can now be recovered from domestic consumers through revenue requirement petitions of Sui Southern and Sui Northern.

The gas supply to captive power plants of export sectors would also be shut down if winter turns more severe. Right now, the captive power plants are being provided 50%  gas supply. However, for processing in the textile sector, the gas of 40-42 mmcfd would continue. 

The government is extending electricity at the rate of Rs19.99 per unit, which is why it would halt the gas supply to captive power plants. Right now the power sector is currently being provided 165-200 mmcfd of gas, which would be halved during the peak winter.

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An investigation was “launched” into PTA’s inability to get Rs. 78 billion back from Telcos

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The PTA has reportedly been instructed to reply to NAB by July 29. According to the enquiry, the national exchequer has suffered losses as a result of the delay in collecting dues.

The PTA has been asked to provide NAB with information about any pertinent records, court proceedings, and overdue bills. The NAB Karachi has summoned the PTA officials to appear with all pertinent documentation.

All of the principle sum has to be paid by the LDI firms, according to sources. But due to judicial stay orders, the collection of dues has been impeded.

These sources further state that a steering group has been established by the Ministry of IT to supervise the issue of dues recovery.

In a previous event, the tariffs levied on importing cell phones from outside were clarified by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Contrary to what some internet reports claim, PTA clarified in response to recent news regarding the tariffs on mobile phone imports that there hasn’t been a formal decision to remove these levies in Pakistan.

the PTA.Pakistanis living abroad will be the only ones free from these levies, according to the PTA. A SIM card can be inserted and the phone restarted to temporarily register a device for non-PTA mobile subscribers.

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Weekly inflation in Pakistan increased by 0.17 percent.

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The SPI for the week under review in the aforementioned group was reported at 321.95 points, as opposed to 321.40 points during the previous week, according to the PBS statistics.

The SPI for the combined consumption group saw a 20.09 percent increase in the week under review compared to the same week the previous year.

The weekly SPI includes 51 necessary items for every spending group and 17 urban areas, with a base year of 2015–16 = 100.

The SPI for the lowest consumption category, which is up to Rs 17,732, grew by 0.08 percent from 311.97 points to 312.22 points this past week.

0.18 percent,The index of consumption for the lowest consumption groups, which are Rs 17,732-22,888, Rs 22,889-29,517, Rs 29,518-44,175 and above Rs 44,175; increased by 0.13 percent, 0.15 percent, 0.18 and 0.19 percent, respectively.

Nineteen (37.25%) of the fifty-one commodities had price increases over the week, eight (15.69%) had price decreases, and twenty-four (47.06%) had unchanged pricing.

On a weekly basis, the following commodities saw significant price decreases: tomatoes (9.19%), onions (2.14%), LPG (1.04%), bananas (0.53%), wheat flour (0.35%), potatoes (0.17%), pulse masoor (0.16%), and bread (0.05%).

Chicken (4.80%), garlic (2.01%), pulse gramme (1.87%), eggs (1.71%), beef (0.93%), gur (0.89%), pulse moong (0.84%), fresh milk (0.45%), firewood (0.23%), and cigarettes (0.12%) were among the items whose average prices increased significantly week over week.

The commodities that saw a year-over-year decline were: wheat flour (31.75%); cooking oil (13.44%); vegetable ghee 2.5 kg (10.42%); vegetable ghee 1 kg (9.85%); mustard oil (8.33%); eggs (5.82%); rice basmati broken (4.15%); and tea package (2.52%).

Gas prices for Q1 (570.00%), onions (96.01%), pulse gramme (40.39%), powered milk (39.11%), garlic (34.61%), pulse moong (29.77%), men’s sandals (25.01%), beef (23.52%), salt powder (23.28%), pulse mash (22.50%), and energy saver (17.96%) were among the commodities whose average prices increased year over year.

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The price of gold has drastically dropped in Pakistan.

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As per the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the cost of 24-karat gold per tola decreased by Rs 2,300, standing at Rs 250,500.

A kilogramme of 24-karat gold costing Rs1,972 less at the local market, making it worth Rs2114,763. Ten grammes of 22-karat gold had a price decrease to Rs196,866 as well.

After losing a significant $43 during the day, the rate per ounce of gold on the international market also decreased. It currently stands at $2,370.

On Thursday, the price of 24-karat silver also experienced a decline, falling by Rs60 to settle at Rs2,860 petal.

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