KARACHI, Pakistan: The Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that load shedding will come to an end in November this year and concrete steps are being taken to overcome the gas shortages.
While speaking on the occasion of inauguration of retail facility shop stop of the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) in Karachi’s Defence area on Tuesday, the minister said that by next year 10,000 megawatts more electricity would be added in the system.
The minister also pointed out that there was no reduction of gas for the K-Electric. He said that increase in duration of load shedding in Karachi was not due to shortage of gas supply. He said that K-Electric was being provided gas today as had been in the past.
The federal minister pointed out that the government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was working on long-term energy plans in the Country and inclusion of 15,000 megawatts more electricity in the system was the part of our long-term policy.
Shahid Khaqan further said that without enhancing gas production, the energy crisis couldn’t be overcome. He said that for resolving the problem the import of gas is necessary.
The petroleum minister said that concrete measures were being undertaken to overcome shortage of gas and result of these had started to come to the fore, adding that more such results would be visible in the time ahead.
The minister said that efforts were also being made to provide gas to the consumers as per their requirements whether liquefied natural gas (CNG) station, industry or any other sector. He said that the government would play the role of a facilitator in this regard.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that major gas companies are willing to come to Pakistan.
In addition, he said the PSO was endeavoring to provide latest facilities to its customers and its petrol pumps were being modernized. He said that in other parts of the Country, superstores, ATM machines, and adequate security would be made available at PSO pumps.
