Investments in Balochistan's Oil and Gas Sector to Avert Growing Energy Crisis

Byline: SYED FAZL-E-HAIDER Pakistan's gas reserves are rapidly depleting as the country faces acute gas shortage to run its industry and meet the domestic needs. Gas load shedding has become a routine in major industrial cities of the country. The gas shortage has led to the closure of many industrial units rendering thousands of people jobless across the country. The government should open up the resource-rich Balochistan for investments in oil and gas sector. The province offers great opportunities in oil and gas exploration for local and foreign investors. The exploration projects can open up the province converting it into a land of opportunities for foreign investors. The officials have projected a gas shortfall of 10.34 billion cubic feet per day by financial year 2015. The indigenous gas supply has been projected at 2.16 billion cubic feet per day against the current gas supply of 4.3 bcfd. The demand for gas would stand at 12.5 bcfd by 2015.