ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed to ensure uninterrupted gas and power supply to consumers during the holy month of Ramadan.
Chairing a high-level meeting on the petroleum sector, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of providing facilities to the private sector and both local and foreign investors in the exploration, refining, and distribution of gas and oil.
The meeting, attended by Senators Ishaq Dar and Dr. Musadik Malik, as well as other officials, focused on promoting global investment in the exploration of Tight Gas and undersea oil and gas reserves. The Prime Minister highlighted the need to fully utilize Pakistan’s maritime area to discover its hidden natural resources.
Furthermore, he stressed the enhancement of petroleum refining capacity and the development of a comprehensive strategy to address the circular debt in the oil and gas sectors. The Prime Minister also called for reducing losses in the gas sector through smart metering and taking strict action against the theft of gas and oil.
Moreover, Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasized the importance of providing LPG to consumers at affordable prices and ensuring uninterrupted gas supply to the industrial sector. He urged domestic consumers to use electricity instead of gas and called for energy conservation measures.
The Prime Minister asked for reports on previous energy conservation efforts and urged for improvements in the administrative infrastructure of the energy sector. He emphasized merit-based appointments and the presentation of short, mid, and long-term strategies for energy sector reforms.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Shehbaz directed the presentation of strategies for the exploration of mineral resources and the enhancement of exports. The meeting was briefed on the country’s depleting oil and gas reserves, the ongoing work on the LPG Policy 2024, and foreign investors’ interest in the sector.
the Prime Minister instructed the relevant authorities to prioritize the implementation of energy sector reforms.
