ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat has expressed concern over gaps in enforcement, consumer protection, LPG supply and pricing, customs security in Balochistan, border trade arrangements, coordination among investigative agencies, coordination between the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Nadra on biometric verification, and the existing mobile phone taxation mechanism.
The committee was informed that more than 30 attacks had been carried out on LPG bowsers in Nushki, while Customs officials said an LPG bowser was valued at between Rs20 million and Rs30 million, underscoring the significant financial losses and security risks associated with such attacks. The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, chaired by Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan, held a detailed meeting to review Customs enforcement and security challenges in Balochistan, the security of LPG tankers, LPG supply and pricing, the issue of substandard cylinders, the fire incident at the Quetta Customs warehouse, border trade matters, investigations by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), taxation and registration of mobile phones, and the installation of facial recognition devices at franchises along with biometric verification through PakID.
The committee was briefed on serious security challenges faced by customs authorities in Balochistan. Officials informed the committee that more than 30 attacks had been carried out on LPG bowsers in Nushki. They said the situation had been brought under considerable control through enhanced security measures.
Customs officials noted that an LPG bowser was valued at between Rs20 million and Rs30 million, highlighting the substantial financial losses and security risks associated with attacks on such vehicles.
The Additional Inspector General of Police, Balochistan, informed the committee that police, the Frontier Corps and other law-enforcement agencies were actively working to protect LPG transportation routes. He acknowledged that the mountainous terrain posed serious operational challenges but assured the committee that all possible efforts were being made to improve security and prevent further incidents.
The committee was also briefed on the country’s LPG supply gap. An Ogra member stated that Pakistan’s daily LPG consumption stood at 6,000 metric tonnes, while domestic production ranged between 2,000 and 2,500 metric tonnes per day.
Senator Abdul Qadir inquired about the distribution of LPG across the country. The Ogra member replied that the government had allocated a 10 per cent quota for the northern areas.
Senator Abdul Qadir proposed that LPG should instead be divided equally between the northern and southern regions, with a 50 per cent share for each.
The Ogra member further informed the committee that piped gas reached only 28 per cent of the country’s urban population, making LPG an important alternative source of energy for a large section of consumers.
A representative of the LPG Association told the committee that sufficient gas was not available for the northern areas and that importers were facing difficulties due to policy-related issues. He said the government’s price calculation was based on local prices, while there was a difference of approximately $150 between local and imported LPG prices.
The representative noted that LPG was currently being sold in the market at Rs400 to Rs500 per kilogram, whereas it should ideally be available at around Rs350 per kilogram. He said the LPG industry was ready to support the government, provided the sector was strengthened through appropriate policy measures.
The issue of substandard LPG cylinders also came under discussion. Committee Chairman Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan expressed serious concern over the sale of substandard cylinders in the market and frequent incidents of cylinder explosions.
Ogra officials informed the committee that the existing law provided for a fine of Rs50,000 and six months’ imprisonment for the sale of substandard cylinders. However, after arrests, accused persons often obtained bail by taking advantage of legal provisions.
Officials said amendments to the law were being proposed to increase the punishment to 14 years’ imprisonment along with heavy fines. The proposed amendment bill had been sent to the Ministry of Interior.
The committee also examined the fire incident at the Quetta Customs warehouse. Customs officials said the exact cause of the fire had not been determined, while acknowledging that certain materials stored at the warehouse were highly inflammable.
Senator Aimal Wali Khan questioned why inflammable materials, including LPG and petrol, had been stored at the facility. Customs officials described the incident as a lapse and said action was being taken against the persons concerned.
The Additional IG Balochistan informed the committee that petrol had been poured and the fire had been deliberately started. Senator Aimal Wali Khan pointed out a significant discrepancy between reports prepared by the police and Customs authorities, noting that one report indicated that the fire had started spontaneously while another stated that it had been deliberately set. The chairman directed that both reports be placed before the committee along with a detailed briefing on the matter.
Committee members also pointed out two inspectors posted at the Gaddani Collectorate and questioned why action had not been taken against them despite instructions from the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The Customs side said the matter would be examined comprehensively and requested the committee to share any available evidence so that appropriate action could be taken.
Senator Aimal Wali Khan also questioned the closure of the border with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He observed that if the border with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was to remain closed, similar measures should be considered for Balochistan, particularly given the greater threat of terrorism in the province.
He stressed that Pakistan’s neighbours would remain its neighbours and that trade with neighbouring countries, including India, needed to be restored.
The FIA briefed the committee on the arrest of former FESCO CEOs and informed members that the case, initially taken up by the FIA, had subsequently been transferred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Senator Aimal Wali Khan discussed the arrest of a senior Customs officer by the FIA and pointed out the harassment allegedly being faced by the Collector’s family. The FIA explained the current status of its investigation.
