PM for early import of LNG to overcome gas shortage
ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Thursday directed the Ministry of Petroleum to expedite the import of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to overcome the deficiency of more than two BCF (billion cubic feet) to provide substantial relief to domestic and industrial sectors.The Prime Minister gave this direction while chairing a meeting here at the PM House, which was attended by Minister for Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Minister for Petroleum Dr. Asim Hussain and Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar besides the Secretaries and senior officials of the respective ministries to discuss the early import of LNG as the quickest way to overcome gas shortage in the country.
 

The Prime Minister observed that as the availability of gas from Iran, TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) projects and other sources would take time, it was, therefore, absolutely important that immediate measures be taken to mitigate the sufferings of households and the industrial sector through the import of LNG from various sources.
 The Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, apprised the meeting that the Ministry had been working on two pronged strategy for the earliest import of LNG. One is the import of LNG by government and the other through the private sector for which OGRA (Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority) had already short-listed potential investors.