Bad deal

This letter refers to the article ‘Explaining the LNG deal that helped Pakistan’ (Feb 4, 2020) by Wawar Satti. The writer fails to mention that we are effectively held hostage by the Qatar LNG deal. The deal extends to 2025, at the highest spot rate, while all the costs of shipment and risks associated with it are to be borne by Pakistan. The deal even forces PSO to pay for five shipments in advance and forces Pakistan to buy two shipments per month, even in the summer when LNG is not needed.

Since the LNG is to be used for power generation the cost of electricity and gas has increased crippling the little industry Pakistan already had, while increasing inflation for everyone. The Qatar LNG deal is one of the worst deals in the history of Pakistan and the government should make every effort to have it cancelled by hook or by crook as it will slowly drain our country.

Engr Shahryar Khan Baseer

Peshawar