Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday said challenges should be turned into opportunities in order to accelerate exploration efforts for oil and gas in the country. The PM expressed these views while presiding over a meeting on petroleum issues at the PM House on Friday.
Ashraf was briefed about the exploration projects of Oil and Gas Development Corporation Limited (OGDCL) in the oil and gas sector and the incentives provided to attract investments.
He directed to make the oil and gas production efficient to meet the growing energy requirements of the economy.
He said through joint partnerships, every effort should be put in for the enhanced exploration and drilling of oil and gas so that more energy could become part of the system.
The PM emphasised that locals should also be employed from the areas of exploration activity and the provision of education, health, sports and sanitation facilities should be ensured in the respective areas under the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) so that the localities get a boost in terms of development and amenities.
Ashraf was apprised that in compliance with his directions, fuel supplies to power sector had been enhanced to more than 15,000 MT.
The PM directed the Ministry of Petroleum to build up stocks of fuel by storing additional supplies in order to ensure smooth supply of electricity during the ensuing months.
He directed that regular supply of oil to power sector be ensured and arbitrary variations in the oil supply be avoided.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Minister for Water and Power Ahmed Mukhtar, Advisor to PM on Petroleum Dr. Asim Hussein and other senior officials of the concerned ministries.
