KARACHI: Pakistan LNG Ltd (PLL) is seeking four shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for delivery in July, with bids to be sent in by June 23, a tender published on Friday showed.

The four delivery windows given to international suppliers for the cargoes are July 3-4, 8-9, 25-26 and 30-31.

In recent years Pakistan has increased reliance on LNG for electricity generation, but is facing widespread power outages as procurement of the chilled fuel re­­mains unreliable and expensive.

Pakistan plans to seek a deferred payment plan for liquefied natural gas bought under long-term deals with Qatar, as Islamabad faces a balance of payments crisis and falling foreign exchange reserves.

As it awaits IMF funds, cash-strapped Pakistan is faced with falling for­­­e­­ign exchange reserves, enough for less than 45 days of imports, and a huge current account deficit — with energy purchases dominating its record import bill.

Published in Dawn,June 18th, 2022