A four member official team will visit Doha on Sunday to finalise price for importing 500 mmcfd Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for which Qatar has sought sovereign guarantee from Pakistan. Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain told this to reporters after visiting Qatar, during which he held talks with his Qatari counterpart. He said Qatar has shown interest in providing LNG to Pakistan on long term basis provided the deal was finalised on government to government basis along with sovereign guarantees.
He said if gas prices were finalised during the official talks, LNG imports would start from December this year. He said upto 800 mmcfd would be added in the national transmission network by June this year. In reply to a question, he said gas supply to industrial units, especially textiles will be provided on priority to save the livelihood of thousand of people.
Earlier, Petroleum Minister chaired the meeting of special ministerial committee on gas issues to formulate practical recommendations for gas load management during the remaining period of the current winter season. The meeting was attended by minister for defense Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, minister for water and power Syed Naveed Qamar, minister for religious affairs, Syed Khursheed Ahmed, minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo and other senior officers.
The committee was briefed regarding existing gas supply and demand situation in the country. Managing Directors of SNGPL and SSGCL gave detailed presentations to the committee via video conferencing. The committee was informed that presently there was a shortfall of 1.1 bcfd in the country as demand of natural gas has quadrupled in winters as compared to summer. During the first week of January SNGPL is facing a total shortfall of 735 mmcfd, while as SSGC has a shortfall of 376 mmcfd.
The committee deliberated upon existing gas load management plan including gas supply to various sectors including the domestic, industrial, CNG, fertiliser, textile and commercial sectors. The committee agreed that issue of gas shortage should not be politicised and the opposition should provide plausible suggestions to overcome gas shortfall.
