By IANS,
Islamabad : Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani wants to expedite the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to overcome the energy crisis in Pakistan.
Pakistan is facing a deficiency of more than two BCF (billion cubic feet) of gas and Gilani wants to expedite imports to provide substantial relief to domestic and industrial sectors, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.
He directed senior officials to discuss the early import of LNG as the quickest way to overcome gas shortage in the country.
Gilani observed that as the availability of gas from Iran, TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) projects and other sources would take time, it was important that immediate measures be taken to mitigate the sufferings of households and the industrial sector through the import of LNG from various sources.
A senior petroleum ministry official said that a two-pronged strategy had been worked out for gas import. One is the import of LNG by government and the other through the private sector for which the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has short-listed potential investors.