ISLAMABAD -  Senate Standing Committee on petroleum on Monday lashed out at Sui Northern Gas Pipelines limited and said that staff is involved in gas theft.
The meeting held under the chair of Senator Muhammad Yousaf, discussed loss to national exchequer due to supply of petroleum products to neighbouring country Afghanistan, and gas bill theft 2014. Secretary Petroleum Abid Saeed told the committee that gas thieves would be fined heavily and informers would be given five per cent of the total recovery.
The Committee observed that gas theft was in connivance with SNGPL staff and advised MD to take strict action against culprits.
It was also observed that influential people were involved in gas theft.  SNGPL was also criticised for not making recoveries.
MD SNGPL told committee that during January 2012 to February 2014, gas theft of Rs 12.7 billion was detected and company recovered three billion rupees during the said time.
Senator Hamza said that electricity is produced by gas generators in Faisalabad. MD said that use of gas for electricity generation is illegal.