PM sets May 8 deadline for gas reform report as crisis response accelerates

Pakistan has suspended new regasified liquefied natural gas connections and ordered emergency measures to boost domestic supply, sources said on Tuesday, as the government unveiled a sweeping action plan to address the country’s worsening gas crisis. The Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level review and stressed the need for institutional reform and tighter coordination across the energy sector, directing officials to maintain the moratorium on new RLNG connections until supply conditions improve. A comprehensive government framework covering gas supply, pricing and demand management has been drawn up, sources said. On the Prime Minister’s orders, the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) will serve as an integrated oversight body, with measures previously handled by the Power Task Force folded into its mandate. The Prime Minister sought a direct briefing from the Secretary of Petroleum and has mandated that a monthly gas reform report be submitted by May 8. Major exploration and production companies — Mari Petroleum, OGDCL, PPL, MOL and UEP — have been directed to submit weekly reports on additional gas availability, the sources added. Authorities have also decided to develop a new strategy to balance gas demand and supply, with significant changes ordered to domestic gas demand planning. Gas load-shedding schedules will be revised under the Prime Minister’s instructions, and efforts to reduce gas losses are to be accelerated. On the pricing front, officials have decided to maintain existing gas prices while preparing a strategy to generate additional revenue. The government is also drawing up a plan to maximise the use of cheaper domestic gas in place of costlier imported supplies. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and the energy task force have been instructed to estimate the financial impact of the planned measures, sources said.

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