Federal cabinet lifts ban on new gas connections

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has lifted the ban on new gas connections and approved the imposition of agricultural and environmental emergencies across the country.

Addressing a joint press conference after the cabinet meeting, Federal Energy Minister Ali Pervez Malik and Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that the prime minister and cabinet have agreed to resume issuing new gas connections to ease the difficulties faced by citizens.

Malik said that new Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) connections would now be provided to the people. “LPG is the most expensive fuel and people face difficulties in refilling cylinders. RLNG, although costly, will still be 30 to 35 per cent cheaper than imported LPG,” he explained.

He said that the cabinet took key decisions in today’s meeting, pledging that the federal government would fulfil all its responsibilities regarding flood damages. The cabinet also reviewed the outcomes of the prime minister’s recent visit to China.

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Tariq Fazal said the meeting also discussed the flood situation. “The prime minister has decided to impose an environmental emergency nationwide, which the cabinet has endorsed,” he said, adding that global climate change was already affecting Pakistan.

He said the climate change minister would present a report to the prime minister within 15 days, after which the cabinet would deliberate on measures to mitigate future risks arising from climate change.

The minister said that the cabinet also approved an agricultural emergency to assess the damage caused by floods and explore ways to compensate farmers for their losses.

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“Implementation of these decisions will not be possible without consultation and cooperation with provincial governments,” Tariq Fazal said, adding that the prime minister had called for an immediate meeting with chief ministers to brief them on the situation.