Parliamentary Secretary for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shehzadi Umerzadi told the National Assembly Monday that negotiations between Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Limited are underway for import of LNG from Qatar. She said that the project will be implemented from March 31 next year while similar negotiations are also being initiated with a Malaysian company.
Replying to a question, Umerzadi informed the House that government is taking different steps to overcome shortage of natural gas in the country. She said that different initiatives including enhancement of indigenous gas production, import of LNG, import of gas from Iran, import of gas from Turkmenistan and promotion of LPG air mix have been taken to meet the gas shortage in the country.
Replying to a question, Umerzadi informed the House that Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project will be completed by October 2017. She said that the TAPI countries have finalised the contractual agreement with the government of Turkmenistan.
To a question about Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, the parliamentary secretary said that the petroleum and natural resources ministers of both countries held meeting in Tehran last month and agreed to amend the agreement as they cannot go ahead under the existing agreement due to international sanctions on Iran.
