ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has been ordered to focus on new oil and gas finds to maintain the momentum of national economic growth and cater to the increasing domestic energy demand.

The directive was issued by the Senate’s Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources, which met here on Thursday under Senator Syed Dilawar Abbas.

The Senate body specifically urged the provincial governments (as coal and minerals are a provincial subject) to pay special attention towards development of coal reserves, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan, enabling the natural resource to be used for enhance power generation capacity.

The committee also directed the Oil and gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to check rising LPG prices and noted that it was rapidly becoming the fuel of choice in areas without gas distribution network, especially in Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas.

“The authority must intervene to protect the interest of the common man and maintain reasonability in LPG prices. Privatisation should not lead to monopolistic trends culminating in price hikes,” the committee cautioned.

The committee also expressed concern over reports about storage of LPG cylinders in residential areas and its unsafe use in motor rickshaws.

The committee recommended that the LPG companies be asked to ensure a supply of at least 10 per cent of their total production to Balochistan and seven per cent to Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas.

The committee also welcomed the $3 billion to $4 billion UAE investment for setting up an oil refinery near Karachi, which will be export-oriented.

The committee urged the ministry to ensure that there was no loadshedding of gas in Balochistan; especially in gas producing areas. Senator Mohabat Khan Marri called for regularising certain daily wages employees working for gas companies in Balochistan.

The meeting was attended by Senators Mohammad Sarwar Khan Kakar, Haroon Khan, Mir Mohabat Khan Marri and Mrs Rukhsana Zuberi.