Islamabad, Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik addressed the National Assembly today, explaining the government’s decision to halt new gas connections is aimed at ensuring reliable gas supply to existing consumers amidst rapidly depleting reserves.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, during a response to a Calling Attention Notice, Minister Malik detailed the annual decline in domestic gas supplies by fourteen to fifteen percent. He emphasized the importance of blending domestic gas with imported LNG to maintain uninterrupted supply. Furthermore, he announced a significant investment in Karachi’s gas infrastructure, specifically in the Kemari, Lyari, and Malir districts, with a project budget of four point five billion rupees designed to improve service delivery to these areas.
The session also included remarks from Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb regarding fiscal policies affecting the erstwhile FATA and PATA regions, with existing tax and duty exemptions set to end on June 30th of this year. Discussions also covered the need for a level playing field in fiscal policies as demanded by the business community.
Additional reports and policy statements concerning the nation’s fiscal health and accountability were presented in the House, which continues to deliberate on the President’s recent address emphasizing economic reconciliation and the importance of effective governance. The National Assembly session is scheduled to resume tomorrow at eleven a.m.