Ogra okays 45% gas tariff hike for next fiscal year

ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has approved up to 45% hike in natural gas tariff for Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SNGCL) for the next fiscal year.
The new prices will take effect from the next fiscal year, which begins on July 01.
Ogra has allowed Rs266.58 per MMBtu, or 45%, increase for SNGPL which had sought a rise of 198% in its gas tariff.
The authority allowed SSGCL an increase of Rs308.53 per MMBtu, or 44%, against its demand of a 45% hike.
The gas tariff for SNGPL will go up from Rs854.52 per MMBtu to Rs1,121.1 and for SNGCL from Rs699.29 per MMBtu to Rs1,007.82.
An average household in Pakistan uses between one and two MMBtu every month and 45% increase in their gas bills may burden them with an additional Rs300 to Rs600 rupees. However, since the new sale prices would be determined category-wise it is unclear how much extra money residential consumers will be made to cough up.said, “The petitioner is directed to approach the SP investigation, city division for making the statement under section 154 Cr.P.C, upon which the SP shall get the same recorded by the SHO concerned of the Data Darbar police station or Bhatti Gate, [and] proceed in accordance with [the] law”.
The petitioner Afzal Azeem advocate had told the court that police high-ups not only tortured PTI’s workers but also baton-charged and used tear gas on them, besides damaging their vehicles, to restrain them from joining the march.
He termed police’s conduct an offence of a serious as the officials tortured the citizens exercising their democratic right of protest.
Azeem informed the court that he had visited the police station concerned but the police seemed reluctant to register an FIR against the aforesaid. He prayed to the court to direct the concerned SHO to register an FIR against the aforementioned.
As the judge sought police report, the SP concerned replied that on May 25, PTI workers created a law and order situation causing terror and fear amongst general public upon which the district administration enforced section 144 Cr.P.C throughout the province
He maintained that the activists raised anti-state slogans, beat police officials, abducted an employee of Punjab police, therefore, an FIR 794/22 was registered under sections 365, 427, 393,136,353,148,149,188 of PPC and 16 MPO in Bhatti Gate police station. He added that a second FIR of the same occurrence could not be registered.
Furthermore, as per the SHO’s report, the place of occurrence does not fall under the Data Darbar police station jurisdiction but within the Bhatti Gate police precincts.
After hearing the arguments, the judge directed the petitioner to approach the police station concerned to get his recorded under the aforementioned section.
Earlier, an additional district and sessions judge had also directed SHO Bhati Gate Police Station to register a criminal case against interior minister Rana Sanaullah, eight police officials including CCPO Lahore and DIG Operations, 400 unknown officials for assaulting the lawyers, torturing and damaging their vehicles when they were going to the Islamabad to join the long march.
Judge Mian Mudasar Umar Bodla gave direction to the concerned SHO to register a criminal case under section 154 Cr.P.C and the procedures in accordance with the law.