KARACHI: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Re­­sources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi dismissed doubts and rumours about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Tuesday.

“The CPEC agreement is transparent and has no grey areas,” the minister said while talking to the media on the sidelines of the Pakistan Oil, Gas and Energy Exhibition at the Karachi Expo Centre.

He said the government is trying to maintain petroleum prices as it did not pass on the impact of rising oil prices to consumers.

Pakistan is a major consumer of furnace oil. Its use is being discouraged elsewhere in the world due to its bad impact on the environment.

The minister said the government is developing alternative energy sources, adding that the solar nergy sector has received tax incentives and duty cuts.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the exhibition, the minister said LNG consumption can increase manifold going forward. Mr Abbasi said he expects the share of LNG in the energy mix will rise over the next three years.

He said the government is trying to maintain gas prices to provide consumers with relief.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2017