Pakistan to be gas sufficient in 3 years

Pakistan cannot afford to import gas from Iran and has formulated a government policy to be self-sufficient in gas within 3 years, said Asim Hussain, oil and gas advisor to the prime minister.

Jan. 16, 2009

By an OGJ correspondent
KARACHI, Jan. 16 -- Pakistan cannot afford to import gas from Iran and has formulated a government policy to be self-sufficient in gas within 3 years, said Asim Hussain, oil and gas advisor to the prime minister.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Pakistan's Lower House, Asim said Iranian gas would cost $500 million/month.

The government has formulated a policy under which it would be self-sufficient in gas within 3 years, he added.

Asim said Pakistan now has a shortfall of 700 MMcfd of gas, up from 500 MMcfd last year. He criticized the previous administration for not exploring indigenous gas during the last 7 years as the demand for gas increased. He said 235,000 consumers, 770 CNG stations, and 4,700 commercial connections were added last year. But there was no increase in the gas production.