Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain said Saturday that summary for the removal of sales tax on the import of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) will be submitted to the Cabinet next week.

He was talking to media after handing over certificates for units of Sui Southern Gas Company under Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme (BESOS) at a local hotel. He said the levy on LPG has been imposed on the producers.

The minister pointed out that a road map was under preparation for removing the gap between the demand and supply of natural gas in the country. This plan will enable the country to get the required gas in three to five years, he added.

He said that the country was facing shortage of 1.8 billion cubic feet (BFC) of gas per day as demand was 6 BCF while production was 4.2 BFC per day. Dr Asim said that nobody in the country paid attention to energy issues and therefore never tried to chalk out plan for acquiring energy in a proper manner.

The minister asked SSGC to confirm those employees who are working in the company since last ten years after conducting their tests.

Earlier, President PPP Karachi Senator Faisal Raza Abidi said that 47,000 employees have been regularized after the instructions of Prime Minister under party policy. More than 100,000 workers in the government departments will be confirmed under this policy, he added.