August 31, 2008	Sunday	Sha'aban 28, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 30: A Senate committee has urged the government to accelerate work on the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project and explore new gas fields to bridge the widening demand-supply gap in the energy sector.

The Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources, which met here on Saturday under Senator Dilawar Abbas, observed that the widening gap in supply and demand was expected to grow in the near future.

It was suggested that members of the committee might visit Iran to resolve outstanding issues blocking the IPI project and go ahead even if India backed out of the project.

The committee said that gas fields were fast depleting and there were no new finds to cater for the increasing demand of energy, particularly gas.

It said that meticulous planning was needed to improve the supply situation, adding that there was an urgent need to explore alternative energy resources.