
On May 30, the Pakistani federal government unveiled a significant plan aimed at addressing issues related to fuel theft and illegal trafficking across all petrol stations throughout the country. During his visit to the Sui Southern Gas Company offices in Karachi last Friday, Federal Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik provided further insights into this resolution. He stressed the critical importance of curbing these losses and enhancing openness in fuel transactions.
The minister stated that digitalization of fuel pumps across every gas station is imminent. This new technology will enable automatic tracking and monitoring of fuel amounts, thereby reducing opportunities for manual fraud and misuse. According to Malik, this initiative aims to enhance transparency, deter deceit, and assist authorities in reclaiming substantial revenues previously unaccounted for.
In response to queries regarding home gas supplies, the minister acknowledged that Pakistan does not have enough indigenous natural gas resources to accommodate increased requests for residential hookups. Nevertheless, he stated his intention to officially ask the Prime Minister to permit new gas connections via liquefied natural gas imports, particularly in regions with existing pipeline networks.
During his discussion on energy production challenges, the minister highlighted that numerous power facilities have refrained from buying liquefied natural gas (LNG). Consequently, approximately 400 MMCFD of domestically accessible gas has been halted as a result. Although there was an uptick in the petroleum development levy (PDL) recently, fuel costs currently remain steady thanks to regulatory interventions by the administration.
Regarding economic connections, Malik stated that the administration has established a special task force aimed at discovering opportunities to enhance commerce with the United States. The objective is to augment the importation of energy-focused machinery and supplies while also strengthening mutual collaboration within the energy industry.