Ombudsman directs gas companies to resolve public complaints on priority basis.
Islamabad, the 11th August, 2020 PRESS RELEASE Syed Tahir Shahbaz, Federal Ombusman The Federal Ombudsman Syed Tahir Shahbaz has asked OGRA, SNGPL and SSGPL to implement all decision passed by the Federal Ombudsman by 20th August. He said that during the year 2019 and in first 6 month of 2020, complaints against gas companies have raised by 120%. He directed OGRA to monitor the complaint management system of both the gas companies. He was chairing a high level meeting at Islamabad with Chairman OGRA, SNGPL and SSGPL to streamline their complaint management system. The heads of all the three agencies attended the meeting. He said that gas companies should appoint their focal persons and resolve public complaints on priority basis. He directed OGRA to find out the reasons for increasing public complaints against gas companies and submission of report within two weeks. The Federal Ombudsman said that poor response by WMS Regional Offices, Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur have been reported therefore, directed MD, SSGPL to take strict measures for poor response and non compliance. He said that in future no delay and tolerance would be accepted. He asked to submit complete report of pending cases. The Chairman OGRA assured that in future timely compliance would be given to all offices of WMS. Before that in another meeting, the Federal Ombudsman reviewed the performance of all investigating officers during first 6 months of 2020 through video conference. All the heads of regional offices, Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Peshawar attended the meeting through video conference, whereas, the Regional head of Abbottabad personally attended meeting at Islamabad. Senior Adviser Mr. Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi informed that from January to June, 2020 Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat received 47,285 complaints whereas last year it was 34,157 cases. He informed that 38.4% complaints received in excess even corona situation. He said that during these six months 41,071 cases were disposed off which was 14.4 % excess from last year which was 35,895. Federal Ombudsman appreciated the performance of all the investigating officers even in corona situation.