Govt focusing on increasing share of renewable energy to provide cheap electricity to consumers, Senate informed.

ISLAMABAD -- The Senate was informed on Friday that the government is focusing on increasing share of renewable energy to provide cheap electricity to the consumers.

Energy Minister Omer Ayub Khan told the house during question hour that government is striving to bring electricity price to 4.35 rupees per unit by introducing renewable energy projects.

The Minister told the House that previous governments preferred costly RLNG projects instead of using renewable sources. He said in winter due to heavy snow fall hydel generation is halted which results into low production of electricity.

The Minister said presently fifty companies including fifteen local ones are working in exploration and production of oil and gas in the country. He said in coming days drilling activities will be increased in the coastal areas of Pakistan to explore oil and gas.

Omer Ayub Khan said that Pakistan is facing gas crisis as its demand is 7.5 billion cubic feet per day whereas the production stood at 3.5 billion cubic feet. He said 1.5 billion cubic feet LNG is being imported.

Minister for Housing and Works Chaudhry Tariq Bashir Cheema told the...