I urge the petroleum ministry to facilitate exploratory activities and support refinery operations in Pakistan
KARACHI: Pakistan is blessed with significant reserves of natural resources, which can serve as fuel. However, thus far, these have remained unexploited because of the inefficiency and ignorance of those in authority. In the absence of modern petroleum extraction techniques and reinforced infrastructure, the recovery factor for oil from wells and other reserves is very low. This is a very heartbreaking observation since development funds are written into the national budget on a yearly basis, and a substantial portion of them go to the petroleum ministry.
Many reports and researches have been aimed at addressing the discovery of large oil and gas reserves in the country over the last many years, but all these explorations have ended in vain. No research or policy paper has ever informed the national strategy.
I urge the petroleum ministry to facilitate exploratory activities and support refinery operations in Pakistan. Ours is a country of immense promise and potential. The only thing needed is for its potential to be tapped, which can only happen if the politicians stop being lazy and negligent. The current petrol crisis that we face is an outcome of this lazy and negligent behaviour.
Sidra Talha
Published in The Express Tribune, January 22nd, 2015.
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