ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday decided to start negotiations with Malaysia, China, Algeria, Nigeria, and Trinidad for import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to meet its growing energy needs.

The decision was made during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCE) chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House in the federal capital.

Official sources told Dawn that the CCE also approved government-to-government negotiations with Russia, Qatar and China for the construction of the North-South gas pipeline. This 42-inch pipeline will be laid along the new alignment of N-5.

PM Nawaz said that power projects must be fast-tracked on top priority to provide relief to people.

He also directed the CCE that steps should be taken on an immediate basis for early start of the 1680-km Turkmenistan-Afghanistan- Pakistan-India (Tapi) gas pipeline which would be immensely beneficial in providing energy security to the region.

Also read: Tapi member states agree to revive stalled gas pipeline project

The PM was informed that negotiations are under way with Iran but due to international sanctions on the country, import of electricity from Iran would not be possible in the short-term.

The CCE gave approval for official inclusion of Gwadar-Nawabshah gas pipeline into the Early Harvest Program of Pak-China economic corridor.

Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif and Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi briefed the committee on setting up of a 3600MW power generation plant based on Regassified LNG. The committee was informed that the LNG Terminal at Port Qasim would be completed next month.

Nawaz said work on preparing feasibility studies and sorting out modalities should be completed as soon as possible. He directed both the ministries to give a detailed presentation in this regard next week.

The PM also gave in-principle approval for allocating funds in Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for financing of this project.

Secretary Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Muhammad Saleem Sethi gave the meeting an overview of the Energy Active Portfolio and briefed about the generic issues causing delays in utilisation of funds.

The premier took notice of un-utilised funds relating to generation, transmission and distribution projects and directed EAD and relevant ministries to expedite the foreign funded projects.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and Chairman of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Zafar Mahmood and senior government officials are attending the meeting.