The National Assembly (NA) on Monday approved four demands for grants of Rs 723.54 million for Petroleum and Natural Resources Division and attached departments with majority votes while rejecting all cut motions presented by the opposition.
The demands were presented in the House by Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid on behalf of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar while opposition members submitted 70 cut motions.
Opening debate on cut motions, Abdul Waseem of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said the petroleum sector was the backbone of the country’s industry and needed immediate attention of the government.
He said Pakistan State Oil (PSO) used to be a profitable organisation but now had a circular debt of Rs 200 billion and was also facing issues of corruption.
Shugfta Jumani of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) said the Thar coal project could change the future economic direction of the country.
She said Pakistan had the capacity to produce surplus electricity, which could be exported to other countries.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed of Awami Muslim League said shortage of electricity was caused by fuel shortages.
China has carried out a geological survey on Pakistan’s offshore finding gas and oil resources. He said, adding that and work should be started on the study.
He said for the first time the federal government had taken the nationalists of Balochistan on board, who should be asked to allow further exploration of oil in the province.
If the government can buy expensive gas from Iran it can also explore and produce gas from its own territory, he added.
He said National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) should perform audit of independent power producers as there were massive irregularities in their works.
Sheikh Rashid said local public oil and gas companies were indecisive on buying oil rigs from foreign countries, stressing that now was the time to act on the issue.
He said there were abundant oil and gas reserves in the country and expatriate Pakistanis could finance their exploration.
PPP’s Shahida Rehmani said the Iran gas pipeline project should be executed as Pakistan could earn royalty if it was extended to other countries.
She said the use of alternative energy, including solar and wind power, could boost economic activity in the country. Lal Chand said levy on petroleum products should be reduced and gas produced from Balochistan and Sindh should be made available for the local population also.
Concluding the debate, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the demand of all sectors of the economy for gas could not be met at the same time.
He alleged that the energy requirements of the country were not being met in the past to serve personal interests.
He said the government would improve the gas supply situation through a new policy.
He held previous governments responsible for the imbalance in supply and demand of gas and said 2.4 million vehicles were converted to gas, while half of fertilizer factories were shut down.
The minister said the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline agreement was signed in the last days of the PPP government and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government was committed to carrying out this accord. Later, the speaker adjourned the House till Thursday,11 am.
