PM Abbasi says efforts afoot to overcome energy challenges

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Monday concerted efforts are being made to meet the energy challenges facing the country.

He said this while addressing the inaugural ceremony of second LNG terminal at Port Qasim in Karachi on Monday. The terminal has been completed at a cost of 50 billion rupees.

The premier said LNG terminals will help meet the growing demand of energy as more gas-based power plants were being installed.

Abbasi said construction of LNG terminals will boost economy and industry in the country and more terminals will be set up in future.

He said that the country is on the path to development and the industry was growing with 5.3 percent GDP which is expected to rise to 6 percent in the next financial year. The government has successfully completed all the projects that it started after coming to power, he added.

The PM said the newly constructed terminal will help overcome gas shortage in the country that had affected consumers, industries and fertilizers sector.

Abbasi said a coal based power plant of 13,00 megawatt was under construction while more plants were also in pipeline. Three gas based power plants will soon be initiated in the country, he announced.

He said the demand for LNG was increasing and setting up of the second terminal without government guarantee was manifestation of confidence of the market.