ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to finalise a comprehensive winter gas management plan and take advance measures to maintain the country’s gas supplies amid regional energy market uncertainty.
Chairing a meeting on winter gas management in Islamabad on Tuesday, the prime minister instructed relevant departments to make arrangements for gas imports and ensure adequate supplies during the colder months, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Officials briefed the meeting that locally produced gas would be prioritised for domestic consumers, while regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) would primarily be allocated to the power and industrial sectors.
The prime minister also called for a nationwide awareness campaign to inform consumers about the winter gas management strategy and encourage households to consider alternative energy options.
Authorities told the meeting that steps were being taken to maintain the transmission of gas from reserves located in northern parts of the country. The government is also considering facilitating bank financing for electric water heaters and space-heating appliances as part of efforts to reduce household dependence on gas.
The meeting comes as Pakistan prepares its LNG requirements for the December-to-February winter period amid uncertainty in international energy supplies linked to tensions in the Middle East. Senior members of the federal cabinet and government officials, including Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, attended the meeting.
