ISLAMABAD – The domestic consumers are likely to face another increase ingas prices, that too to the tune of 200 percent as the EconomicCoordination Committee would be brainstorming the recommendation today.
The Petroleum Division has proposed 25% increase in gas prices for domesticgas consumer in the first slab. Fifty per cent (50%) increase isrecommended for the second slab, 75% for the third slab, 100% for thefourth slab, 150% for the fifth slab and 200% for the sixth slab gasconsumers, however, no increase in gas prices has been recommended for theelite who use gas in bulk.
If Hafeez Sheikh-led ECC gives approval of recommendations, the bill forconsumers falling in the first slab will go up from existing Rs285 to Rs422per month while the bill for slab-two consumers will go up from Rs572 toRs1,219; bill for slab-three from Rs2,305 to Rs4,009; bill for slab-fourfrom Rs3,589 to Rs7,995 and bill for slab-five from Rs13,508 to Rs14,373per month, Express Tribune reported.
The main reason for increase in gas prices is said to be depreciation ofrupee against US Dollar as Ogra had set Rs150 per US dollar exchange rateto determine prices of gas for consumers in the next financial year.
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Though the Petroleum Division has suggested slab-wise recommendation, theOil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) had recommend 31% and 20% acrossthe board increase respectively in gas prices for all categories of the SuiNorthern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) and the Sui Southern Gas Company(SSGC) consumers.
