Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued a directive to ensure an uninterrupted supply of electricity and gas during the forthcoming month of Ramadan, emphasizing the need for the government to support the private sector and shield consumers, particularly the economically vulnerable, from energy shortages.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Prime Minister’s instructions came during a high-level meeting focused on the petroleum sector in Islamabad. He highlighted the importance of providing comprehensive facilities to both local and foreign investors in the realms of oil and gas exploration, refining, and distribution.

Prime Minister Sharif advised on the implementation of policies to attract international investment for the development of tight gas and offshore oil and gas reserves. Expressing concern over untapped resources within Pakistan’s maritime borders, which exceed the area of Balochistan, he cited the discovery and utilization of substantial oil and gas reserves as a top priority for his administration.

Sharif also called for an increase in the country’s refining capabilities and the development of a robust strategy to eradicate the oil and gas sector’s circular debt permanently. He underscored the importance of identifying and punishing those guilty of gas and electricity theft and suggested that smart metering could play a role in reducing gas losses.

Determined to prevent any misuse of the national treasury and the wealth of the Pakistani people, Sharif mandated rigorous monitoring of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) sector to make LPG accessible at reasonable prices. Additionally, he insisted on the continuous supply of gas to industries to maintain economic stability.

The Prime Minister urged the encouragement of domestic consumers to use electricity over gas for their daily needs and requested a report on the implementation of the previous regime’s energy conservation action plan.

He concluded by calling for the development of Pakistan’s energy sector’s administrative structure in line with international standards and demanded that a detailed short, medium, and long-term action plan for energy sector reforms be compiled and submitted promptly for review.