Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) Managing Director Amir Tufail has said there will be a shortfall of over 500mmcf in the coming winter.

Talking to a private news channel, SNGPL’s Tufail said that the continuous depletion of gas reserves is a matter of great concern, while the demand for gas is increasing and production is declining, which will exacerbate the gas crisis in December-January.

A similar statement was given by the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Petroleum Nadeem Babar, who just days ago predicted that the gas producing provinces might face gas shortages in the next three years, in case, no steps were taken to bridge the gas deficit.

Meanwhile, Tufail said that if the shortfall increases, the gas provided to the commercial sector will have to be stopped but gas will be provided to the domestic consumers.

He said that efforts would be made to minimize load shedding and provide gas at mealtimes.

Tufail said that strict action will be taken against those using compressors illegally, people waste gas thinking it is cheap, this attitude needs to change. Tufail further informed that they have applied to OGRA to increase the gas rate.

He said a new pipeline from Karachi to Lahore was being laid to add another 1,600mmcf of the imported RLNG system in the system for over two years. He said that 400,000 new connections have been provided this year while 2.7 million applications are pending.