PM Imran directs to expedite exploration work in oil, gas sectors

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday directed the local companies to expedite their exploration work in the oil and gas sectors, ARY News reported.

PM Imran Khan said this while presiding over a meeting held to review issues pertaining to petroleum sector in Islamabad.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Asad Umar, Petroleum Minister Ghulam Sarwar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Iftikhar Durrani, the secretary petroleum and other senior officials of the ministry.

The prime minister directed the Petroleum Division to extend every possible assistance to foreign companies working in this sector.

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He also directed to digitalise all the system and removal of unnecessary hurdles to ensure completion of every project in the oil and gas sector in the allotted time.

Prime Minister Khan said nature had given oil and gas reserves besides other minerals to Pakistan and we can take benefit of these by their exploration and usage.

Premier Imran Khan said unfortunately, previous governments concentrated on import of precious fuel items instead of exploration in the oil and gas reserves. He said this phenomenon affected the industrial sector and also put an extra burden on the masses.

The PM directed to provide complete security to foreign companies attached with exploration of oil and gas sector.

It was decided in the meeting to set up a task force for the security of foreign companies in this sector.

The prime minister was given a detailed briefing about the unnecessary hurdles in the exploration of oil and gas wells.