An extra billing of Rs one billion to the gas consumers in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces from the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has been exposed.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has issued orders to the SNGPL to return the collected additional money to the public, reported 24News HD TV channel on Saturday.

Taking serious action on the scandal, the OGRA has written a letter to the Managing Director (MD) of the SNGPL to return the extra money to the public with immediate effect.

It is revealed in the scam that despite the amount of Rs4,500 in the head of the service charges, separate Galvanized Iron (GI) pipe charges were levied.

As per the OGRA Ordinance and the Domestic Gas Supply Act, the SNGPL could not get extra fees from the consumers.

The OGRA declared a collection of Rs740 levied on GI pipe for installing the gas meter was totally illegal so it should be returned to the consumers.

On the other hand, the SNGPL authorities had declared the letter from OGRA unnecessary and urged to the inclusion of the GI pipe charges in the Sui gas tariff.

Reporter: Awais Kiyani