National consensus needed to avoid gas shortages 'crisis' in 2021-22 — PM advisor

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani prime minister’s special assistant on petroleum said at a meeting chaired by the PM on Thursday that a “national consensus” was needed against an "impending crisis" of gas shortages expected by winter 2021-22. 
Pakistan is chronically short of gas for power production and to supply homes and manufacturers such as fertilizer makers, hobbling the country’s economy.
“While presenting gas production, consumption and transmission data from various provinces, it was informed that the country would face major gas shortage by winter 2021-2022,” the PM office said in a statement released after a meeting of the Council of Common Interests,  a constitutional body that resolves disputes of power sharing between the federation and the provinces.
“SAPM for Petroleum gave a detailed presentation to Council of Common Interest on annual demand and supply situation of gas with special reference to future requirements and dwindling domestic gas reserves,” the statement said, adding: “It was recommended that a national consensus needs to be built for major push for new exploration and production, conservation of domestic gas and rationalization of price mechanisms to avoid impending crises.”
The special advisor on petroleum Nadeem Babar said the government was “organizing a summit of industry experts to discuss various options to meet this impending challenge and requested the provinces for their active participation.”
Pakistan last year selected groups that include Exxon Mobil Corp and Royal Dutch Shell to build five liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals as it aims to triple imports and ease gas shortages. The terminals could be in operation within two to three years, the government has said.