Govt Considers Lifting Ban on Domestic Gas Connections

Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, has stated that the government is seriously considering lifting the long-standing ban on new gas connections for domestic consumers. In a recent media briefing, Malik confirmed, “he would meet with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shortly to discuss the issue in detail and asserted that this is a nationwide concern that needs to be addressed.”

Highlighting the growing energy demands, Malik pointed out the limited availability of local gas supplies and suggested that “new domestic connections may have to rely on imported gas.” He shared that “he had already discussed the matter of lifting of ban on domestic gas connections with the prime minister earlier and will keep the public informed on any progress.”

In related developments, the petroleum minister announced key initiatives to combat fuel smuggling and theft. He said the government is advancing rapidly towards the “digitalisation of all trucks transporting diesel”, which will ensure that “the unloading points of these tankers will now be recorded in the official system.”

To further curb illegal activities, Malik revealed a major national campaign to modernize petrol pumps. The move aims to eliminate manual filling systems that facilitate malpractice. “Manual filling machines enable fuel theft and the sale of smuggled diesel,” he noted.

Additionally, the minister expressed concern over a setback in LNG procurement, stating that “power generation companies had earlier committed to purchasing six LNG cargoes, but are now backing out of those import plans.”