Jazz, Pakistan’s leading digital operator, has strongly refuted Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited’s (SNGPL) “baseless allegation” of gas theft.
In a statement, the company said it has over 15,000 towers nationwide and does not use natural gas on any of its sites, categorically refuting any claims suggesting otherwise. It further said there is no provision for gas use in any of the diesel power generators deployed at the Jazz sites across its network.
“Even in the image shared by SNGPL of the Karak site in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a diesel generator can be seen, which directly contradicts the inaccurate assertions made by the gas company,” the statement added.
The statement said that accusing Jazz of gas theft at one of its sites is frivolous and lacks merit. SNGPL’s accusation against a large multinational like Jazz, which is among the significant taxpayers with over $10.5 billion invested in Pakistan, holds no basis. Baseless accusations like this can undermine investor confidence and have the potential to negatively impact the country’s economy, it added.
“Jazz ensures that its electricity and fuel arrangements are completely legitimate. As part of its backup power plan, Jazz has established agreements with third-party vendors to exclusively supply diesel fuel for generators at multiple locations,” the company said further.
It added that Jazz enjoys an impeccable reputation and highly values the trust placed in it by its stakeholders. The irresponsible approach exhibited by SNGPL in making unfounded allegations has the potential to not only damage foreign investor confidence but also harm national interests.
ProPakistani approached SNGPL for its response to the rebuttal issued by Jazz and the gas company has disclosed further details about the raid.
According to SNGPL, the raid at the mobile tower was conducted earlier in September and through a letter dated September 9, Jazz was issued a detection bill on account of pilferage of gas.
According to the detection bill, a copy of which is available with ProPakistani, the pilfered gas was in use by a gas-fired engine for electricity generation for the power requirement of the tower.
Further, the letter states that an FIR has already been lodged at the concerned police station under section 462/C of the PPC. Moreover, as per section 25 of the OGRA Ordinance and details finalized by the team, the cost of gas with GST (18 percent) has been calculated at Rs. 3,080,404 while the cost for pipeline repair is Rs. 696,860 taking the total detection bill to Rs. 3.77 million.
As per the letter, Jazz has been asked to pay the above-mentioned detection charges within 7 days of the receipt of the bill. The letter has also warned of legal course of action under the Gas (Theft and Recovery) Act 2016 and Sections 25 and 27 of OGRA Ordinance 2002, in case of failure to deposit the charges.
A day earlier, SNGPL said that it has uncovered a major case of gas theft at a mobile phone tower site operated by Jazz.
Source: Pro Pakistani