ISLAMABAD, Dec 5: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon told the National Assembly on Monday that the government was considering a proposal to import gas from Qatar through an offshore pipeline. In a written reply to a question by MNA Sabir Ahmed Khan, the minister said the length and cost of the pipeline would be worked out on the basis of exact route and delivery point in Pakistan, which were still to be determined.
Mr Jadoon said negotiations were under way with the Qatari authorities regarding the quantity of gas to be imported. He, however, said the annual import of gas from Qatar was expected to be 1,600 to 2,000 million cubic feet per day.
He said options to import gas from Iran and Turkmenistan were also under consideration.
In response to a question by MNA Jamila Ahmed, the minister said Rs5.264 billion was outstanding against 702,854 defaulters of gas companies in the country. He said Rs3.801 billion was outstanding against 529,840 defaulters in Punjab, Rs710.294 million against 133,697 defaulters in Sindh, Rs682.7 million against 32,961 defaulters in the NWFP and Rs69.82 million against 6,356 defaulters in Balochistan.
Replying to a question by MNA Yasmeen Rehman, he said the gas reserves of Sui field were 3.983 trillion cubic feet.
In response to a question by MNA Belum Hasnain, the minister said the government had allocated Rs2.648 billion to launch new projects to supply gas in Punjab, Rs2.455 billion in Sindh, Rs1.867 billion in Balochistan and Rs956.3 million in the NWFP.
