Govt to return Rs 2.5bn to consumers for gas overbilling: Fawad Chaudhry
- By Web Desk -
- Mar 19, 2019
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said the government was returning Rs 2.5 billion to gas consumers after they were overbilled, ARY News reported.
Briefing the media after federal cabinet meeting, the information minister said inflated gas bills were being sent to consumers from 2016-17. He said additional charges were imposed in 3.2 million bills. The government is now returning Rs 2.5 billion to the consumers who were overbilled.
He said names of some bigwigs will also unearth in gas theft. “There is an organised network behind this malpractice,” he added.
Read: Officials responsible for gas overbilling to face action: Ghulam Sarwar
Fawad Chaudhry said the Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed was coming to Pakistan and it was an honour for us.
He said the government would keep special focus on agricultural reforms in the next five years. The minister said the Cabinet had decided to promote the livestock sector.
He also announced that the new director general of Debt Policy Coordination Office will be Abdur Rehman Warraich.
He said the mechanism to appoint heads of sub-departments of different ministries had been decided by the cabinet.
Fawad Chaudhry also informed that the cabinet had decided complete restructuring of National Information Technology Board.
“We are also in the process for enacting legislation for the welfare of journalists,” he added.
A task force has also been formed for sale of government land [for the purpose of revenue generation].
Regarding Kartarput corridor, he said the 6.9 kilometers-long corridor will be formed.
The information minister said a roadmap will be given for digitization of the government.
He reiterated that Pakistan was going through difficult economic position.
To a question, Fawad Chaudhry dismissed reports that he had a heated exchange with Finance Minister Asad Umar during a meeting. “He is like my brother and several points come into discussion during cabinet meetings,” he remarked.