Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has called for the exploitation of both internal as well as external resources to meet the energy requirements of the country. He emphasised that hydro potential, which is in abundance in the country, should also be developed on fast track basis. He said that besides a focused approach, an integrated energy plan is needed to ensure energy security of the country.

The prime minister said this while chairing a meeting to review the energy situation and examine measures to bridge the supply and demand gap, both in the long and short term. As regards LNG project, the prime minister asked the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to place the proposal before the ECC for thorough deliberations and decision.

Earlier the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar apprised the meeting on various options to improve the energy situation, including the import of LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) from Qatar to meet the needs of the country. The meeting was also attended by the Minister for Finance Shaukat Fayyaz Ahmad Tarin, Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri and concerned federal secretaries.-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010