Govt lifts ban on new gas connections

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced the launch of the process to supply regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) connections to domestic consumers, responding to a longstanding public demand for the restoration of household gas supply.

The government had imposed a ban on new gas connections in 2021, citing rapidly depleting reserves across the country. The restriction forced consumers to shift from piped gas to alternative and often more expensive sources of fuel for cooking and heating.

During 2022, when the Shehbaz-led Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition took office, the government came under heavy public pressure to resume gas connections.

The prime minister told a ceremony on Sunday that gas availability had been a major challenge at the time, but funds were later released and infrastructure laid down, enabling RLNG supply to a large number of pending applicants.

He described the move as a continuation of the public welfare-oriented policies initiated by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 2013. "When Nawaz Sharif assumed office for the third time, the country was facing up to 20 hours of power load-shedding daily," he recalled.

Shehbaz congratulated coalition partners — including the PPP, MQM, and BAP — on the restoration of gas connections for domestic consumers. He also prayed for Pakistan's progress and prosperity, stressing the need for continued hard work and dedication.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, cabinet ministers, secretaries, parliamentarians, and officials of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).

Earlier, in a video message, Minister for Energy Ali Pervaiz Malik said SNGPL had reduced its line losses to 4.93 per cent while posting a profit of Rs29 billion during the previous fiscal year.

The announcement follows recent discoveries of new oil and gas reserves in the country. Last month, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) reported a "significant" discovery of oil and gas in the eastern Attock district.

In February, Mari Energies, a domestic exploration firm, uncovered fresh hydrocarbon reserves in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, with initial testing indicating a flow of 12.96 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas and around 20 barrels per day (bbl/d) of condensate.

(APP WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)