ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources was informed on Tuesday that the supply of natural gas through the Iran-Pakistan (IP) pipeline would start by December 2014.

Petroleum and Natural Resources Secretary Ejaz Chaudhry said the route survey of the IP pipeline project had been completed and the process of land acquisition was under way.

The NA panel's meeting, chaired by Sardar Talib Hassain Nakai, expressed dismay over the delay in the international pipeline projects.

The committee was informed that the tender of the project would be issued soon after completing legal formalities.

The secretary said as a long-term step to overcome the gas shortage, talks were underway to conclude an agreement for getting gas from Turkmenistan under the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India pipeline (TAPI) and supply of gas would start by 2016.

The committee was informed about the gas loadshedding, particularly in Punjab and Islamabad, and current gas production in the country that is over four billion cubic feet per day (BCFD) whereas the demand is over six BCFD.

"Gas demand during winters multiplies because of increase in consumption in the domestic sector," the secretary said.

The contributory factors for widening gap between resources and insufficient addition of gas from existing and new sources and the shortfall for the current year is ranging from 668 to 1,061 MMCFD.

"The present gap is going to increase to around 303 BCFD by 2015, and the situation remains the same the gap will increase to 5.24 BCFD by 2020," the committee was told.

The committee expressed concern over the energy crisis and directed the ministry to come with solid proposals in the next meeting so that it could contribute to save the country from the situation not only for the short-term basis but also long-term.

The committee directed the SNGPL and SSGCL to complete the gas developmental projects of parliamentarians on time.