"There is a progress on the project and a financial advisor for the project will be appointed in a week," he told reporters after the signing ceremony of petroleum exploration license agreement between government and PPL.
Responding to a question, he said, "we have assured Indian government that Pakistan will provide protection to the pipeline in its territory." About other pipeline projects, he said the government was also working on Turkamenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) and Qatar- Pakistan gas pipelines.
"We will take a decision on these gaslines in the best interest of the country," he added.
Replying to a query about gas shortage, he said there was no any shortage of gas to domestic consumers in the country. "In the peak of winter season, we switched off supply to industrial consumers to compensate the domestic consumers every year".
About grant of petroleum exploration license to Pakistan Petroleum Limited, he said this was part of the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz policy to make the country self-sufficient in oil and gas production.
He said the government would continue to grant oil and gas exploration licenses to local and foreign companies.
Naseer Mengal said a memorandum of understanding was signed between Pakistan and Yemen during the President's recent visit to that country. Under the MOU, the Yemeni companies would invest in Pakistan's petroleum sector while Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDCL) would start oil and gas exploration in Yemen. He informed that the OGDC was also taking interest to start exploration activities in Oman.