Govt devises contingency plans to ensure adequate LPG, LNG supplies in winter: PM

ISLAMABAD, Nov 4 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that the government was making all-out efforts to ensure availability of energy supplies, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and oil during the upcoming winter season amid challenges posed by rising international prices and maritime routes.

Chairing a federal cabinet meeting, the prime minister said the government was holding meetings every two to three days to review energy requirements and prepare contingency and coordination plans to ensure adequate supplies during the winter.

He said the government would make every possible effort to keep power plants operational and contain the impact of rising energy prices on the common people.

The prime minister also announced that the decades-old monopoly in the LPG sector had come to an end, with the government introducing a competitive and transparent mechanism for its allocation.

Under the new system, locally produced LPG would be offered through competitive auctions under proper supervision, while companies importing the commodity would also be required to follow prescribed procedures.

The revenue generated through the transparent auction process would contribute to the national exchequer and subsequently be utilised for providing subsidies and relief to ordinary citizens.

Referring to rising international crude oil prices, the prime minister said the Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, his team, OGRA and the relevant committee had taken a timely decision to approach refineries for sharing their windfall profits to avoid passing on a proposed Rs15 per litre increase in petrol prices to consumers.

He appreciated the decision and said the government’s subsidy programme, which had benefited around 15 million people, would continue at least until the end of December.

He said approximately Rs28 billion had so far been spent under the programme, benefiting an estimated 75 million people when their families were included.

He said overall the programme was continuing in a transparent way, but intelligence agencies had identified irregularities at few petrol pumps and directed the petroleum minister to ensure their closure and impose heavy financial penalties on those involved.

The prime minister said regional instability was the major reason behind the sharp increase in international crude oil prices, adding that Pakistan was actively playing its role in promoting regional peace and stability.

He referred to recent diplomatic engagements, including two visits by Pakistani delegations to Tehran, the visit of the Field Marshal, the Saudi defence minister’s visit to Pakistan and Turkish official Ibrahim Kalin’s visit, saying constructive discussions had been held to reduce regional tensions and advance cooperation under the proposed trilateral arrangement involving Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.

On the security situation, the prime minister said the government had finalised a comprehensive Rs160 billion development and security package for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He expressed confidence that the sacrifices of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies, along with improved arrangements and cooperation from the provincial government, would help eliminate terrorism.

He said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan had suffered greatly due to terrorism and reiterated the government’s resolve to eradicate the menace permanently.