ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has requested the World Bank for a loan of about $200 million to enhance the supply of natural gas by reducing the physical and commercial losses of gas in the pipeline system, it was officially learnt here.

High levels of unaccounted-for-gas (UFG) are the major contributor to the ever-aggravating gas supply crisis in Pakistan. UFG in Pakistan was recorded at about 9 per cent which is highest as compared to around 2 per cent in the countries of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a World Bank report says.

Official sources said that beneficiaries of the project will be mainly the consumers of natural gas in Sindh and Balochistan which would have more gas available with unaccounted-for-gas (UFG) cost in their tariff and adequate gas pressure.

The project which is expected to be approved by the executive board of World Bank by the end of this year and will be carried out by the SSGC which will be the key beneficiary of the project.

The benefits to Pakistan would be more gas potentially available for power generation and lowering greenhouse emissions.

The household gas appliance industry in the country generally produces low- efficiency appliances that do not meet Pakistan's thermal efficiency standards.