Petroleum Policy 2009 awaiting consideration by CCI: National Assembly informed

Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr Asim Hussain on Wednesday said Petroleum Policy 2009 after completion of review is now awaiting consideration by the Council of Common Interests (CCI).
Responding to a call attention notice of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Chaudhry Muhammad Barjees Tahir and others in the National Assembly‚ the minister said the government has granted 133 oil and gas exploration licenses and work on various fields is being expedited where local gas production is expected. The minister expressed the hope that local gas production would increase in future due to steps taken by the government. However, the minister said it would not be sufficient to overcome shortage in the country.
The minister said the country has to rely on mix of local and imported gas to cater to the domestic demand. Asim admitted that the imported gas would be much expensive as compared to the local gas after including terminal charges and gassification. He said the government was also working on plan to drill 250 wells during the next two years to add 500-mmcfd gas to the system.
Replying to a question, he said that gas theft, unaccounted for gas, has been reduced in Punjab from 14% to 10%. The minister said the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet also approved low BTU gas policy for exploration of low BTU gas and work is also under way under the Tight Gas Policy. Dr Asim denied disclosing increase in petroleum prices before the decision announced by the Ogra.
Responding to another call attention notice about the Federal Regulatory Authority for drug testing, Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah said DRA could not be established without agreement of Punjab government as the subject has been devolved to the provinces after the 18th Amendment.
He said all other provinces have given their consent for setting up of drugs authority at the federal level and the consent of the Punjab government is still awaited. The minister said provincial autonomy is being respected and he was not able to give any date for setting up DRA at the federal level. However, he said as soon as the approval from the provincial government is received, the authority for testing and monitoring drugs would be established at the federal level.