Islamabad, February 20, 2026: The 13th meeting of the Standing Committee on Petroleum Division was held today at Parliament House, chaired by Syed Mustafa Mehmood. Members expressed dissatisfaction over the delayed circulation of briefs for advance perusal and directed the Ministry to submit meeting briefs at least three days prior to each session.
The Committee confirmed the minutes of its meeting held on January 6, 2026, and reviewed the compliance report on previous recommendations. While overall progress was acknowledged, the Committee requested a detailed reply regarding Recommendation No. 04 from the previous meeting in the next session.
During deliberations, Syed Naveed Qamar highlighted the ineffective utilization of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds under the Petroleum Division and provincial authorities. He noted that funds were accumulating without being deployed for social welfare or community development projects, particularly affecting residents in oil and gas-producing areas. The Committee stressed the need for a systematic mechanism to ensure proper utilization and warned that unresolved issues would be raised on the floor of the National Assembly.
The Acting Secretary of the Petroleum Division informed the Committee that the matter had also been taken up with the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly and requested one month to consult further. The Committee agreed, recommending a comprehensive report on fund utilization in the next meeting, including proposed allocations for training local inhabitants.
The Committee received a briefing on Unaccounted for Gas (UFG) theft and leakages from the Managing Directors of SSGCL and SNGPL. Members raised questions regarding UFG and circular debt. While the Additional Secretary reported control over circular debt flows, the Committee directed a separate session specifically to examine UFG issues, including theft and leakages.
Additionally, the Committee recommended a dedicated meeting on mines and minerals and requested the presence of the Minister for Petroleum Division to consider the Committee’s recommendations.
Eight Public Sector Development Programme projects proposed for Financial Year 2026–27 were scrutinized and recommended for approval prior to submission to the Finance Division. The Committee urged timely financial releases to ensure project initiation and completion and instructed the Acting Secretary to provide detailed information within a week.
The meeting was attended by Members of the National Assembly, including Muhammad Bilal Badar, Shaista Khan, Syed Naveed Qamar (via video link), Asad Alam Niazi (via video link), Muhammad Moin Aamer Pirzada, and Gul Asghar Khan, along with senior officers from the Petroleum Division, Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Division, Finance Division, SNGPL, and SSGCL.
