Bill proposing quarterly gas pricing lands in Senate

A bill introduced in the Senate on Friday would let the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority review natural gas licensees’ revenue requirements every quarter, covering wellhead gas prices and imported gas costs, including RLNG. The regulator would advise the federal government on minimum charges and consumer-category sale prices, with the government required to act within 30 days. The proposal also allows quarterly adjustments to be carried into a later six-month determination, while removing the requirement for a public hearing on these revisions.

Dawn reported that the bill’s stated aims include reflecting rupee-dollar movements sooner, improving price signals and limiting gas-sector circular debt. Separately, PPP Senator Waqar Mehdi challenged efforts to move Pakistan Petroleum Limited’s head office from Karachi to Islamabad, citing relocation costs and possible disruption for Sindh-based staff; the minister said PPL’s board considered leaving the current premises unavoidable and that employees would not be affected.