Faced with a gas shortage crisis as winter sets in across Pakistan, the local government has drafted plans to import Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) over land from Turkmenistan via Afghanistan, the Pakistan-based Profit Magazine reported on Wednesday.
These plans could come into play with immediate effect once necessary approvals come through.
The Customs officials in Quetta, after consulting relevant stakeholders, has forwarded a plan to the Federal Board of Revenue of Pakistan to import the LPG via the Chaman border, said sources working on the matter. They said the federal government is all set to take a big step of importing the LPG from Turkmenistan, which is not only cost effective but is also of better quality.
All necessary preparations have been made and customs officials at Chaman border will allow the entry of LPG bowsers to Pakistan after necessary clearance.
According to the newspaper, Pakistan is faced with acute gas shortages, with local reserves depleting fast, and global Liquified Natural Gas prices soaring due to the high demand for it with winter setting in across the world.
The works on the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project is also underway. Once completed, it is expected to carry 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas each year along a route stretching 1,800 km from Galkynysh, the world's second-biggest gas field in Turkmenistan, to the Indian city of Fazilka near the Pakistan border.
