Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik on Thursday stressed that the need to transition to a single fair gas price for all consumers, saying that the existing system of slabs needs to be revisited.

According to a statement issued by the Petroleum Division, Malik chaired a meeting with the SSGCL chairman and Board of Directors, managing director and senior management in Karachi to review the company’s performance, key achievements, operational challenges and future reform priorities.

Malik highlighted that gas prices had not been increased for the past year, while the increase in gas circular debt had nearly been stopped, describing these as important progress towards stabilisation of the gas sector.

The minister said the existing system of gas subsidies through pricing slabs needed to be revisited. He emphasised the need to transition to “a single fair gas price for all consumers”, while protecting vulnerable segments through targeted social protection programmes.

According to the statement, Malik said the transition would spur greater economic activity while reducing the migration of customers to alternative fuels.

The statement said that the minister had directed the Board of Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) to develop a comprehensive strategy and sustainable business model focused on controlling Unaccounted-for-Gas (UFG) to transform the company into a financially viable organisation, with public service as the foremost priority.

The meeting was informed that SSGCL had significantly improved its gas distribution system, with UFG reduced by approximately 57% in volumetric terms, the statement said.

It was also informed that there was no gas load-shedding for K-Electric, industrial consumers and fertiliser plants, while domestic consumers were being provided gas three times a day.

He also directed the SSGCL board to formulate a comprehensive business reform strategy focused on making the company self-sustaining, improving operational efficiency and human resource capabilities, reducing losses and gas theft, strengthening revenue recovery and ensuring better utilisation of resources.

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Secretary Petroleum emphasised that the board operated independently in accordance with the spirit of the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Act.

He said the board should exercise its mandate and take all necessary measures required for the “betterment, efficiency and long-term sustainability” of SSGCL.

Malik said the government was already working with the World Bank on comprehensive gas sector reforms aimed at addressing structural challenges and creating a more efficient, sustainable and financially viable gas sector.

Discussing the situation in Balochistan, the SSGCL board welcomed the constitution of the Political Committee under the deputy prime minister to look into the province’s challenges and appreciated the initiative as a positive step towards addressing longstanding issues in Balochistan.

Malik directed that gas supply issues in Balochistan be resolved on a priority basis, alongside addressing technical challenges, infrastructure constraints and gas theft.

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He stressed the need for sustainable solutions to improve gas availability and service delivery in the province.

The minister added that “public service must remain the top priority” in all operational, financial and strategic decisions while pursuing reforms to ensure the long-term sustainability of the company.