Minister for Petroleum and Natural Dr Asim Hussain has said Pakistan plans to import five hundred mmcfd LNG from Qatar to meet its energy requirements.
He told the National Assembly during question hour that an agreement to this
effect has been signed with Qatar. He said the price of LNG is yet to be decided between the two countries. However, it will be in accordance with prevailing international price in the region.
The Minister expressed the confidence that the supply of LNG from Qatar will be started within one and a half year.
About Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, the Minister said that keeping in view the accrued benefit of the project every possible step is being taken for its fast track implementation. He said a contract has already been signed with an international consortium for timely financing of this important project. Replying to a question, the Minister said the government has finalized the new petroleum policy to expedite oil and gas exploration. He said under this policy licenses will be issued for drilling of 150
blocks.
He said the government is committed to Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project and work on it will be completed well before 2014.
He informed the House that eighty-five gas and oil wells have been drilled in the country during the last four years.
Dr Asim Hussain told the House to a question that the circular debt of the Petroleum sector stands at 396 billion rupees. He said the government retired the debt of 130 billion rupees last month. A high level committee headed by the Finance Minister has been constituted to sort out the issue on permanent basis. He said Planning Division is moving a summary for rationalization of power tariff and removal of subsidies.
About gas shortage, the Minister said that the installation of massive number of CNG stations have become a burden on the system. However, steps are being taken to provide gas to the domestic consumers on priority. He said the gas pressure situation will improve as soon as the temperature is normalized.
Minister for Science and Technology Mir Changez Khan Jamali said keeping in view the energy shortfall, work has been started on the manufacturing of solar energy gadgets including solar streets lights, water heaters and fans. He said National Institute of Electronics is also working on the design and development of LED lights to be illuminated through solar energy.
Minister for Defence Chaudhary Ahmad Mukhtar said that more aircraft will be inducted into the fleet of Pakistan International Airlines to avoid flights delay and provide better traveling facilities to the passengers.
The Defence Minister said that rules will be followed for the purchase of new aircraft for the PIA. In the first phase, we will get aircraft from Boeing on lease while in the second phase aircraft will be procured from Airbus.
Besides, he said the government is encouraging the private airlines and licenses are issued to them within forty days.
Minister for Law Moula Bakhsh Chandio told the House that credible and error free electoral rolls are being prepared in collaboration with NADRA which will be used for the next general elections. He said the final electoral rolls are expected to be published by the end of May this year.
The Minister said Eunuchs have been given the right to cast vote in the general elections. A total of 782 Eunuchs have so far been enrolled in the electoral rolls.
