ISLAMABAD, Jan 7: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain has asked the Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) to enhance its gas production capacity by 100 million cubic feet per day in three months to minimise the shortage being faced by industries and power companies.

The directive came a day after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was informed at a briefing that the existing gas shortage which had crippled the industry and power generation capacity was mainly because of government’s failure to supply additional gas during winter.

Petroleum ministry officials informed the prime minister that the expected additional supply of gas from Tal field had not started because law and order problems had hampered efforts to lay a pipeline from the field. The Qadirpur gas field of the OGDC had also failed to increase supply.

Dr Hussain visited the OGDC headquarters and advised the management to immediately start work on the Kunnar-Pasakhi, Tando Allahyar and Sinjhoro development projects on a fast track basis and complete them within 16 months.

The OGDC can produce the additional 100 million cubic feet per day of gas from new wells in Qadirpur by April. Drilling of the wells is under way.

The country is facing a shortage of about 707 million cubic feet per day.