Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr. Asim Hussain has said
that a new petroleum exploration and production policy is being evolved
to enhance oil and gas exploration activities in the country.
During question hour in the Senate on Friday, the Minister said under
the new policy additional incentives will be provided to the investors
in the sector.
He said the present government has granted 133 exploration licenses
for exploration of oil and gas and efforts are being made to put newly
made discoveries on production during the next few years.
Responding to a supplementary question, Dr. Asim Hussain said the
government is pursuing an aggressive policy of not only importing LNG
and LPG but also bolstering our own local production of gas to mitigate
the hardships of the people.
He said there would be shortage of gas in the winter season due to
gap in demand and supply and burden will be shared with all the
provinces on equitable basis. He said our gas demand stands at eight
Billion Cubic Feet while our production is around four point two BCF.
He said the country has estimated recoverable tight gas reserves of
24 tcf. Initially 100 to 150 mmcfd would be added depending on its
success rate.
Dr. Asim Hussain said Pakistan will also import gas from Iran through
the gas pipeline project to meet its growing energy requirements.
The Federal Minister said the government is cognizant of the circular
debt issue and hoped that it will be able to get rid of it by the end
of this month.
Leader of House, Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari informed that House that
the hospitals of thirty-five bed and fifteen bed have been established
in Makkah and Madina besides seventeen dispensaries to provide medical
facilities to the Pakistani pilgrims. Medicines worth twenty million
rupees have been dispatched to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrims.
He said a toll free number has also been installed in the Kingdom to
receive the feedback and complaints of Hujjaj so that timely response
could be ensured. SANA
