Islamabad: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Wednesday issued orders for the preparation of a road map to overcome gas shortage in Pakistan, a news source reported. Addressing a seminar organised by the Petroleum Division, he said that there was a need for developing consensus between the federal and provincial governments on the issue.
PM Khan further stated that the local gas reserves were depleting and the government had to resort to imports to overcome the anticipated shortfall. He added that the price difference between domestic gas and imported gas would create a supply crisis and increase the circular debt of the energy sector.
The PM said that only 27% of the households in the entire country had access to piped gas connections and the remaining depended on expensive LPG cylinders. He added that a subsidy on gas should benefit the poor the most. He warned that Pakistan was heading towards a crisis and there was a need to develop national consensus and a road map to overcome the anticipated gas shortage.
The PM highlighted that this process ‘would be difficult’, but expressed high hopes for resolving the issue with the help of the Petroleum Division and experts within the sector.
