ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik promised on Wednesday that Pakistan’s framework for an LNG purchase agreement with Azerbaijan would put an end to gas crises and ensure that domestic consumers wouldn’t experience a gas shortage during the upcoming winter.
He told the media that Azerbaijan would provide Pakistan with an LNG cargo each month at a “cheaper price.” According to the long-term agreement between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, he said, we will have 9 to 10 cargo factories in the nation this year. He also added that Azerbaijan would assist Pakistan in meeting its energy needs through cooperation in the oil and gas industries.
Replying to a question about the shortage of gas, he said in winter, we would be able to control the gas shortage.
In some specific areas in Karachi’s, he said that we have been facing infrastructure issues that will be solved on a priority basis.
He said that the government hoped to give more relief to domestic consumers in coming winters which will ensure gas supplies to residential consumers at three times.
To another question, he explained that the government has also devised a plan to attract investment from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as part of the ‘Economic Revival Plan’, adding, these billion of investments in the country would create jobs and livelihoods for the youth and women.
In responding to another query about IMF, he said Pakistan has met all the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a staff-level agreement and we are still very hopeful that the IMF programme will materialize soon.
Talking about the senate chairman’s additional benefits, he strongly condemned and said that these certain privileges as well as allowances at a time when the country has been going through a severe financial crunch is unacceptable.
He said that as a Senator,” I will play my due role and raise objections for these special privileges”.
