ISLAMABAD: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Ghulam Sarwar Khan Friday highlighted importance of using efficient gas appliances to save energy and ensure smooth supply of the commodity to all consumers especially in peak winter season.

He was talking to media persons after participating in an awareness walk about energy conservation, organized by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) Islamabad.

The walk, started from I-8 Imambargah and culminated at I-8 Markaz, was largely attended by students, civil society members, journalists and staff of the SNGPL.

Ghulam Sarwar underlined the need for promotion of solar geysers and heaters to save gas, warning that the gap between demand and supply of the commodity was widening gradually.

The minister said the country was passing through energy and economic crisis, which needed to be tackled with active participation of the public. He also advised the consumers to avoid excessive use of gas.

Currently, he said, the country’s annual gas and oil import bill was around $ 17 billion that could be brought down by adopting a conservation approach.

Answering a question, the minister said the government had full public support to move forward the accountability process.

He said public money had been plundered mercilessly during tenures of Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz governments, and now their leadership would have to face consequences.