RAWALPINDI, Nov 7: Gas supply in the country would increase by 33 per cent from next year when an additional 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas would enter the main conductance line, said federal secretary for petroleum and natural resources Abdullah Yusuf on Wednesday.

In his meeting with the leaders of union councils and Rawalpindi district government, he said natural gas as a domestic fuel is available to 15 per cent of country’s households. Gas supply is presently restricted to major cities and towns and even poorer areas of main cities are devoid of this facility.

With 85 per cent of the population without gas, the government’s policy as described by him was to accord preference to the industrial consumers to save import bill of furnace oil. This policy, he said, helps the government to save US$ 500 to $600 million annually. Estimates of the adverse impact of the unavailability of the gas to such a large segment are never mentioned.

He  told  the visiting leaders that the rates  being  charged from consumers were unrealistic and the government was planning  to rationalise them.

During the recent past, the government has increased the gas prices manifold besides the imposition of the General Sales  Tax.

The government’s policy to hike the gas rates is based on its aim to enhance the  profitability of exploring and marketing companies, which it believes would indirectly help in taking the facility to a greater segment of the society, presently  without it.

The secretary said estimates would be made to provide gas to villages of Chauntra, Chakbeli and Chakri of Rawalpindi district once the district government makes a formal request for it. These areas are located close to the gas fields and are without gas.