Daily Times

LAHORE: As Pakistan is all set to sign commercial agreements with Chinese and Russian governments for construction of Gwadar-Nawabshah and Karachi-Lahore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pipelines, the Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) on Saturday welcomed the proposed deals in this regard.

While talking to the media, PIAF Chairman Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said that China would lay down Gawadar-Nawabshah LNG pipeline at an estimated cost of $ 1.5 billion and Russia would construct Karachi-Lahore pipeline at a cost $ 2 billion. He said that both the pipelines would be completed by the end of 2017 and help transport 1.2 billion cubic feet imported LNG per day.

He said that in first phase, LNG terminals in Gawadar and Karachi would be built each with a capacity to handle 600 million cubic feet LNG. In phase two, LNG terminals in Karachi and Gawadar would be completed with the same capacity.

Irfan Iqbal said that it is a good omen that government is already working on various projects of energy generation and most of them would be completed by the year 2018.

He said that the business community attaches high hopes with the present regime that is taking right measures to bring the economy back on rail adding that various initiatives of PML-N government are yielding desired results, asserting that massive cut in petroleum prices are the ample proof of the government’s commitment with the country.

The PIAF chairman said that the energy is the engine of growth and its demand is growing with every passing day and government had to work on war footing to enhance power generation in the country keeping in view the future needs.

He said that not only ongoing energy projects should be completed at the earliest but also work on new projects including Kalabagh Dam should be started without any delay.

He remarked, “Kalabagh Dam is the life line of the manufacturing and agriculture sectors and those who are opposing this important dam are not well wisher of Pakistan”.

The PIAF chairman urged that the government not to take any kind of pressure and start work on the dam in the larger interest of the country. He also suggested the government to expedite work on the ongoing hydel and alternate energy projects for cheaper generation of electricity.