The Minister of Petroleum, Ali Perviz Malik, said on Wednesday that the federal cabinet had approved the resumption of new gas connections across the country, raising the prohibition imposed in 2021.
According to the government, the media on the media on the decisions of the cabinet have declared that the government had responded to the high demand from the public by raising the prohibition of new connections, according to the Pakistan Associated Press.
He added that the firm has decided to allow new domestic gas connections, especially in newly developed housing areas where residents were forced to count on LPG cylinders and alternative fuels.
The Minister assured that the two SUP companies had already completed the supply processes for meters and pipelines, and would immediately begin to process requests once the official notification issued.
Existing candidates would also have the possibility of converting their requests into RLNG connections by paying the prescribed security costs to OGRA, he added.
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Stressing the commitment of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to alleviate the energy burden of citizens, Malik said that the decision would help reduce household fuel expenditure and provide essential help in the middle of inflation.
He explained that although repassified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) would remain more expensive than domestic natural gas, it would be around 30 to 35% cheaper than GPL, thus relaxing household fuel costs.
“We already have a surplus of RLNG and an adequate availability of electricity, but we are working to strengthen governance and sustainability in the sector,” he added.
He also informed that a call for tenders for domestic gas exploration had already been completed, while another would end soon.
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Malik said efforts are also made to attract international companies, especially those of Turkiye, China and the United States, for exploration onshore and offshore.
“By gradually stimulating local production, we aim to reduce dependence on RLNG and provide cheaper indigenous fuel to people,” he said.
He reiterated the government’s determination to achieve sustainability in the energy sector, to reduce dependence on expensive imports and to gradually move to indigenous fuel resources.
On the floods, Malik said that the Prime Minister personally supervised a complete evaluation of damage to consultation with the provinces. The federal government, he said, would fulfill its responsibility to relieve the maximum of victims.
