Major state-owned companies, including PPL and OGDCL, have been asked to plan to shift to renewable energy so the government can provide people cheaper electricity and gas, Minister of State for Petroleum Musaddiq Malik has said.

“Currently, the government provides a 97% subsidy on gas, while consumers pay only 3% of the amount,” Malik said, while responding to an MNA’s question in the National Assembly on Thursday.

The government cannot afford to subsidise imported gas, he said, adding someone had to bear the burden which the government was doing.

“The only solution is to raise price of gas,” he said, adding the government would cushion the poor.

The minister said that he would present a plan within a month on how the government could increase gas reserves.

‘Iran gas pipeline project’

Malik said he had consulted international lawyers on the sanctions Pakistan might face if it decides to import cheaper gas from Iran.

“We will study the situations of the sanctions again,” he added.