ISLAMABAD - Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) has sought from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to fix the urgent gas connection fee at Rs25, 000 by jacking it up from previous level of Rs3000. 
Official sources told The Nation that SNGPL has sought from the regulator to fix the urgent gas connection fee at Rs25, 000 for Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and areas of federal capital.  The regulator has accepted the plea and set 16th January the date for a hearing on SNGPL’s plea while the hearing would be held at Lahore. At present new gas connection fee stands at only Rs3,000 in the jurisdiction of the gas utility.  The SNGPL in its plea has advocated that around four lakh and forty thousands (4,40,000) applicants have sought new gas connections and their application are lying pending with the utility from last one and half year.  Parliamentarians are repeatedly stressing for new gas connections. Currently, the fee stands at Rs3000 and the regulatory authority should approve increase in the fee and set it at Rs25000.
The sources also told only forty four thousands (44,000) out of four lakh and forty thousands (4,40,000) applicants will get gas connections on first come first serve basis only if Ogra gives its approval to the SNGPL. And, after the approval of regulator, the SNGPL will be bound to give new gas connection within three months.