Pakistan will begin selling surplus liquefied natural gas (LNG) in international markets from January 1. The government aims to reduce losses from unused imported gas and ease pressure on the domestic energy sector. Petroleum Minister Ali Parvez Malik said the move will help limit circular debt and financial strain.
Malik explained that Pakistan imports LNG from Qatar and Italy’s Eni, but lower gas use in electricity generation created a surplus. He added that diverting expensive imported gas to households increased losses to nearly Rs1 trillion. Selling the surplus abroad will help recover costs and stabilize the energy sector.
Read more: Pakistan cancels Eni LNG cargoes, seeks to renegotiate Qatar
The minister said 250,000–300,000 new gas connections are being provided, and winter relief efforts for households are ongoing. Authorities have phased out low-quality gas cylinders after public demand. Malik said these steps aim to improve energy distribution and consumer safety.
He highlighted ongoing projects, including a new pipeline from Machike to Thalian, and said efforts are underway to reduce reliance on imported oil and gas. Malik mentioned an upcoming visit by an Azerbaijani delegation to explore energy cooperation. He also noted potential $3.5 billion investment in local copper exploration and international projects in Balochistan.
Read more: Pakistan seeks LNG cargo deferral from Qatar to ease $5.6bn burden
Malik stressed separating politics from national interests to promote development. He urged focusing on governance improvements rather than personal criticism, saying, “State interests outweigh individual opinions.” He added that constructive criticism should improve performance, not bring anyone down.