The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) of Pakistan foresees that the country's gas supply shortage will further increase in 2022-2023 reaching 4,600 mcf/d (130 mcm/d or 47 bcm/year) and 6,700 mcf/d (190 mcm/d or 69 bcm/year) in 2027-2028. Natural gas accounts for 48% of Pakistan's primary energy mix with production currently reaching 4,000 mcf/d (113 mcm/d), well below current demand levels (6,000 mcf/d or 170 mcm/d). In 2017-2018 the supply gap closed at 1,447 mcf/d (41 mcm/d) and it could reach 3,720 mcf/d (105 mcm/d) in 2019-2020.
Ogra believes that the gap can be reduced by enhancing indigenous gas exploration and by investing in production, import of interstate natural gas and imports of LNG. The construction of two 650 mcf/d (18.4 mcm/d, or 6.7 bcm/year) LNG terminals are major milestones to reduce gas shortage in the country. The share of LNG in the overall gas supply rose to 23% in 2017-2018.