The government is actively engaged to pave way for import of 500 MMCF Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) on emergent basis to be exclusively used for generation of 2500 megawatts electricity in the country.

This was told by Acting Chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani at Prime Minister House. The Acting Chairman OGRA said the import of LNG and its utilization infrastructure is expected to be completed by the third quarter of next year.

In addition, a separate pipeline meant for the creation of increased capacity for transportation of gas from Port Qasim Authority (PQA) to Punjab province is also in hand and work is progressing satisfactorily.

Chairman of Port Qasim Authority apprised that the Authority will have to built three terminals with an estimated cost of 500 million dollars to cope with the handling of the import of such a huge quantity of LNG.

He said his organization is fully prepared to undertake the project after meeting the normal mandatory legal requirements and the imperatives of cost effectiveness of the project.
He said Port Qasim Authority was already working with interested investors for the development of jetty and terminal facilities for handling LNG and implementation of agreement in this regard will be finalized shortly.

The Prime Minister directed the Chairman PQA to gear up his organization to cope with the energy shortages issue and all necessary measures be taken to ensure early import of the LNG.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar, Minister for Petroleum Dr. Asim Hussain, Minister for Law Maula Bux Chandio, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr. Nadeem-ul-Haq and Secretaries of the respective ministries including senior officials of OGRA, State Bank of Pakistan, Ministry of Petroleum, Law Division and Ministry of Finance.