Islamabad, Feb 26 : A formal agreement on the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) Gas pipeline between Pakistan and Iran is likely to be signed in March. Pkistan’s Petroleum and Natural Resources Secretary Farrukh Qayyum assured that gas supply would begin by September 2012.

Qayyum was briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources in Parliament House. He said that Iranian officials are working out the technical details and would supply 2.10 billion cubic feet of natural gas to Pakistan on daily basis for a period of 25 years with delivery point pressure of 798 PSI.

To intensify efforts for land acquisition, a contentious issue the senate body directed the ministry to complete gigantic project on time.

The committee appreciated the IPI gas pipeline project and demanded the government to implement it within the stipulated time frame speculating a difficult time in terms of demand and supply in the coming years.

The Senate body observed that without continuous and reliable supply of energy, oil and gas, there cannot be a sustainable economic development therefore, strenuous efforts will have to be made to enhance and expand the scope of exploratory activities for ensuring energy security in the country.

The body also recommended that apart from stepping up the conventional exploratory activities, the country should diversify its sources and go aggressively after acquiring Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to improve the present situation.

Terming the project as a useful one, the Committee lauded the Mashal LNG Project being pursued by the government, which ought to be strengthened. The country has witnessed unprecedented gas load-shedding/management in winter this year not only for industrial as well as domestic consumers.

“During the winter season, better load management and more meticulous planning is needed to improve the supply situation,” the Daily Times quoted the committee members, as saying.

The committee members said the common perception is that due to lack of proper planning and inefficiency, poor people are made to bear the brunt of severe winter.

The committee directed the gas distribution companies, Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd. (SNGP) and Sui Southern Gas Pipelines Ltd. (SSGPL), to cut their line losses and pilferage of gas, which presently stands at 3 percent. It observed that this ratio is as high as compared to the international standards.

Senator Muhammad Ismail Buledi drew the attention of the chairman that the province of Balochistan is not being given its due share in the senior-grade employees of Pakistan Petroleum Ltd (PPL) and SNGPL, ensuing a rise to heart burning of the local people. The management clarified that appointments at senior level are made strictly on merit and there is no quota system in it.

Earlier, PPL MD briefed the committee about the province and grade wise break-up of the company employees and company’s present and future exploration, drilling and production activities.

Senators Mir Muhammad Naseer Mengal, Haroon Khan, Seed Ahmed Hashmi, Mrs Rukhsana Zuberi, Dr Muhammad Ismail Buledi, Shahid Hassan Bugti, Mir Mohabat Khan Marri and Muhammad Talha Mahmood besides senior officials of the ministry, MDs of SSGPL, SNGPL and PPL were also present in the meeting. (ANI)