AT a recent press conference, the prime minister’s special assistant on petroleum, Nadeem Babar, gave the impression that the country would not face a major gas shortage this winter. Mr Babar claimed the government was making all-out efforts to maximise supplies in the gas network through increased RLNG imports. In the same breath, he cautioned that consumers at the tail-end of the pipeline network could experience low pressure, which is just a roundabout way of warning of impending shortages. The SAPM’s claim came as a surprise to those who have been followed his statements on the issue in recent months; all along he has warned of a severe gas shortage in the wake of depleting domestic reserves and growing demand. What steps have been taken to balance supply and demand? He didn’t reveal any, except to say that the two RLNG terminals in Karachi will be operated at their full capacity of 1,200mmcfd during the winter.
Even if we consider the rationing of the fuel by gas distribution companies for some sectors, LNG industry sources estimate the present shortage to be somewhere between 200mmcfd and 300mmcfd. These figures are projected to rise with a further drop in temperature. No one knows how the government plans to fill the growing supply gap during the peak winter months even if it buys the excess regasification capacity of 150mmcfd available with one of the two terminal operators. Apparently, the SAPM had called the press conference to respond to what he termed was a politically motivated media campaign against the government regarding the volume and price of LNG imports. He insisted that the figures given by a TV show host were “fudged”, contending that 35 LNG cargo ships had been imported in the last 27 months at a lower rate as compared to the LNG agreement signed by the previous government with Qatar. He also sought to clarify that it was not possible to lock in cargoes during peak summer months when spot prices are at their lowest, for peak winters when prices shoot up. But what does it mean for consumers who still have to face gas shortages and low pressure in spite of paying higher prices?
Recurring gas shortage cannot be alleviated without ramping up RLNG imports as domestic gas reserves are drying up and no new major discovery has been made. However, LNG imports cannot be stepped up without radical changes in LNG policy to ensure the creation of a competitive RLNG market. Government policies and red tape are major hurdles in the way of the construction of new LNG terminals. Investors are unwilling to risk their money and want bureaucratic barriers to entry dismantled, infrastructure for evacuation of gas from the terminal built and a free market mechanism adopted. Mr Babar should explain why the government has not been able to reform its policy in the last two years.
Halting UAE visas
IT appears that the Pakistani workforce in the UAE, along with labour from some other, mostly Muslim, countries, has become an unfortunate casualty of the Middle East’s changing geopolitics. While the actual reasons for halting employment and visit visas by the UAE are not clear at the moment, the move coincides with the advent of diplomatic relations between the Emirates and Israel, with the pressure on other Muslim states to similarly engage with Tel Aviv.
In a recent interview, Prime Minister Imran Khan indicated that Pakistan had also come under such pressure. Speculation has been rife on other counts as well, including security and Covid-19 concerns. In an attempt to end these conjectures, the Foreign Office has said that the matter was not linked to security. In addition, SAPM Zulfikar Bukhari has gone so far as to assert that the UAE authorities said there was “no ban on the export of Pakistani workforce”.
This is at variance with the position of the UAE which has confirmed that the non-issuance of visas “till further notice” applies to employment for and visits by Pakistanis under 65 years of age. Already some reports have suggested that, since the ban came into effect on Nov 18, one recruitment agency in Rawalpindi has lost 3,000 jobs that have now been diverted to India.
The truth is that there will continue to be a great deal of insecurity and speculation unless the UAE and subsequently Pakistan make clear, officially, the actual reasons behind the move. The approach of the UAE has been disappointing and discriminatory. That a country which is home to 1.2m Pakistanis — making up a huge bulk of its population — is arbitrarily taking such a harsh position on the entry of Pakistani citizens is deeply troubling and can have serious implications for long-term ties.
Not only must this approach be challenged by the Foreign Office, it should also be taken up by the prime minister at the highest level, as it spells doom for thousands of Pakistanis working in the UAE. In its annual report, the State Bank of Pakistan warned that forced repatriation of Pakistanis who work abroad could create grave problems for the economy, as there are no jobs that can absorb them in the workforce here. In a post-Covid economy, this would spell disaster. The seriousness of this situation should not be lost on the government, which must address the issue immediately.
Adios, Diego
WHILE history will decide who can lay claim to the title of greatest footballer ever, for sure Diego Armando Maradona has led the pack so far, along with the indomitable Pelé. Maradona, who passed away on Wednesday, showed on the football field why the sport is labelled the Beautiful Game, with his magical legwork and stunning goals. From the late 1970s to the mid-1990s he dominated the game. On the field, he made short work of defenders and scored goals that have gone down in the history books and are today studied by youngsters and pros alike. His only World Cup triumph came in 1986, when he helped his native Argentina defeat the West Germans in a memorable final in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca. On the club level, he represented Boca Juniors in his home country, as well as Barcelona and Napoli in the European leagues. Maradona was a global football superstar, inspiring youngsters from Buenos Aires to Beijing to take up the sport.
From very humble origins Maradona rose to the pinnacle of world sport. However, his career was far from perfect and substance abuse dogged him even during his peak. He also suffered from poor health later in life. One can only imagine what feats he could have achieved had he managed to conquer his inner demons. Maradona was also a very political man, maintaining friendships with some of Latin America’s major leftist leaders, including the iconic Fidel Castro and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez. The impact he has left on the world is deep, as tributes have poured in from across the globe. Argentina has declared three days of mourning while football greats Pelé, Gary Lineker and Lionel Messi, amongst others, have all expressed grief at Maradona’s death. Though not a very tall man, Maradona was a true giant on the field and indeed on the world stage, where he combined the personae of athlete, entertainer and public figure. Adios, Diego, and thanks for all the stunning football.
