Updated on
Summary
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday issued directives for the implementation of the decision of Economic Coordination Council (ECC) regarding the equal distribution of gas. Gilani convened a meeting of all stakeholders on Monday to consider ways and means for equitable distribution of energy shortfall across the country. The meeting reviewed the gas crisis hitting the country and its effects. The PM also ordered the concerned ministries to import LNG at the earliest and asked the gas companies to make efforts to check the gas theft and wastage. On the occasion, Punjab CM shahbaz Sharif thanked the Premier for taking interest in the issue and added that the meeting would help resolve the gas crisis facing the country. It is pertinent to mention that the PM summoned a meeting in the wake of the threat by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to start street protests against gas loadshedding in the province. Mr Sharif had accused the federal government and the gas companies of adopting a discriminatory approach in gas supply to the industrial sector in his province and threatened to stage a march on the Mall in Lahore along with labourers and industrialists to protest against the loadshedding decision that had forced a number of factories to close down.The countrys current average gas production stands at 4BCFD against total proven reserves of about 33 trillion cubic feet (TCF), enough to maintain current supplies for more than 20 years. But the shortfall is also estimated to increase to more than 2BCFD in 2013-14 and 5.08BCFD by 2019-20. More than 9 per cent of the gas production is lost to the system losses.On the other hand, adding to the public woes Sui Northern announced that the CNG filling station of Lahore would remain shut form 8:00pm to 8:00am besides a complete closure on Tuesday. CNG association convened an emergency meeting over the schedule.
