Sources said the committee, which met here on Wednesday with Hina Rabbani Khar in the chair, overruled a proposal of the industrial sector that it should be given additional gas during winter season to maintain existing level of production. Industrial sector has been cautioning the government of the impact of electricity crisis and demanding uninterrupted power supply. It is also demanding more supply of gas claiming that better gas supply can help industrial sector make up the losses due to power outages.
The meeting reviewed the availability of gas, its consumption and possibility of additional supply to the system. It was informed that 200-mmcfd gas would be available in next couple of weeks.
"We will get 100-mmcfd gas from Qadirpur gas field whose production is going to increase in next few days and another 100-mmcfd gas will be injected into Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited system under an arrangement to provide enhanced gas supply to consumers during winter season," said an official.
He said after emergency maintenance, supply of gas from Qadirpur field to SNGPL has started. However, for additional supply of gas from this field technical tests were being carried out. Those who attended the meeting included Advisor on Industries and Production, Mian Manzoor Wattoo, Petroleum and Natural Resources Acting Secretary G A Sabri and other senior officials of the Ministries of Textile, Industries, Commerce and Water and Power.