ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): A ban on any new connections using liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been imposed by the Ministry of Petroleum due to increasing shortages of supplies amid escalating tensions in the region between Iran, Israel, and the USA.
The ban applies to both domestic and commercial users, with new applications having stopped for now, pending assessment of the situation regarding the availability of LNG.
According to officials, the decision is likely to be reversed within two weeks, conditional upon any improvement in the supply situation. The war between Iran and the US has led to a disruption in LNG deliveries to Pakistan, putting immense pressure on a strained supply chain.
The Strait of Hormuz, which is of high importance for the transportation of energy throughout the world, is still inaccessible for ships because of the conflict between Iran and the United States.
It has been indicated that there could be a total prohibition on the construction of any gas pipelines if the Strait of Hormuz fails to open up soon.
