NA told long term agreement signed with Qatar for import of LNG
The National Assembly was informed on Wednesday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would visit Turkmenistan on Friday for inauguration of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.
Parliamentary Secretary for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahzadi Umarzadi Tiwana told the House during question hour that the project would help overcome shortage of gas in the country.
She said that there was no ban on domestic gas connections. However, she said that new industrial and commercial gas connections were banned in the country due to huge gap between demand and supply of natural gas. She said that supply of gas to domestic users was the top priority of the government.
She informed the House that in Rawalpindi, company’s gas pipeline network had been overextended even as gas supplies dwindled. She said that low gas pressure complaints had been received from areas of Rawalpindi city located at extreme tail end of company’s gas pipeline network. She pointed out that the government was spending Rs 8.7 million for augmenting gas supply in Rawalpindi.
Replying to a question, Shahzadi Umarzadi Tiwana told the House that a long term agreement for sale and purchase of LNG had been signed between the Pakistani government and the government of Qatar. She said that the agreement would come into effect after the approval of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet. She said that after approval of ECC, price of LNG would be made public. She said that so far 15 cargos of LNG had been imported on an average price of $7.5 to $8.5 per mmbtu and that the government was encouraging the private sector to import the commodity.
Answering a question, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad told the House that conversion of existing Karachi-Hyderabad Superhighway into six-lane Motorway on Built Operate Transfer (BOT) basis was an important part of Karachi-Lahore Motorway project and carried high priority for implementation. He said that construction activities were in progress and the project was likely to be completed in September 2017.
Sheikh Aftab informed the House that there was no change in the route of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He said an additional route had been included namely the Hasanabadal-Mianwali and D.I.Khan for which Rs 30 billion had been allocated.
Answering a question, he said 896 laws of primary legislation and 423 pertaining to subordinate legislation were available on the website www.pakistancode.gov.pk. He said that Urdu translation of these laws was in progress to facilitate the people.
To a question, Sheikh Aftab told the House that Gojra-Shorkot and Shorkot-Khanewal sections of Faisalabad-Multan mortoway were delayed due to land disputes. He said that now that the land had been acquired and funds made available, the government was making all out efforts to complete the two sections at the earliest.
