KARACHI: Pakistan’s en­er­gy future was directly linked to liquefied natural gas (LNG), Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Monday, stressing that the country would not have a gas crisis today if it had committed to the fuel a few years ago.

Speaking as a chief guest at a seminar titled “LNG Outlook in Pakistan”, the minister highlighted the energy situation in the country and explained different aspects of LNG imports and future plans of the government.

A statement said that the seminar, organised by the Petroleum Institute of Pakistan (PIP), was held to provide a platform for all stakeholders to discuss and analyse the current gas issues.

LNG was the only cost-effective solution for Pakistan’s energy problems, Mr Abbasi said, adding that LNG imports in Pakistan would be linked to oil.

He said sustained LNG imports would help the country save $2 billion a year.

The seminar was attended by senior officials of the energy community as well as foreign missions, and representatives from the Sindh government’s energy department and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority.

Board of Investment Chairman Dr Miftah Ismail, PSO Managing Director and PIP Chairman S. Imranul Haque, ISGS MD Mobin Saulat, PQA Chairman Agha Jan Akhtar also attended.

PIP is a non-governmental institution established in 1963 as an energy advisory body that can be relied upon by the government, industry and academic institutions in service of national development objectives. It has a membership of 26 major oil and gas companies operating in the country.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2016