With electricity load shedding in the summer and now gas load shedding in the winter — which is only just beginning — it seems like Pakistani citizens just cannot get a break. It would be miraculous if the rulers of our country wake up and see the ruin that they have landed this country in, all because of their poor planning and mismanagement of the resources that are available. Since the start of winter, the gas pressure has been dropping and the demand growing, especially from the fertiliser industry — of which gas is a raw material — and the textiles industry, the largest sector in Pakistan, which needs gas as fuel. It is through the closure of CNG stations for two days a week and industries for three days a week that the government plans to bridge the gap between demand and supply. Ironically, despite being cognizant of the shortage of CNG, the government in its cost-saving and environment protection attempts has directed its efforts towards the conversion of vehicles to CNG, so much so that even the new buses introduced in a scheme to upgrade public transport in Punjab are CNG-based. Pakistan is considered the largest consumer of CNG in the world but with the current consumption patterns and poor planning, that status will soon change. The government must bear in mind that the Sui gas reserves are dwindling, with a maximum of 20 to 30 years at present levels of consumption remaining. The exploration rate — measured by the number of wells dug — is lagging and is one of the lowest in the world. However, the success rate of even this low numbers of wells is high, indicating that the prospects of new discoveries are good. A short-term alternative to meet the insufficiency of gas would be to import Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). However, this move requires foreign exchange, which unfortunately we do not have a surplus of. It is an expensive and temporary solution to an escalating problem. The exploration rate must be stepped up and a workable policy devised to attract foreign investors in exploration, as Pakistan does not possess adequate resources to do so itself. Investment opportunities should be incentivised and concomitant job creation welcomed. It is imperative that the government focuses on long-term planning and development initiatives to match the current and future demand, in a holistic, internally consistent manner. *