{
  "id": 15689999,
  "title": "Reforms discussed to make gas sector viable",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/reforms-discussed-to-make-gas-sector-viable",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-20T01:57:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn Business",
    "slug": "dawn-business",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2038418/reforms-discussed-to-make-gas-sector-viable"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb convened a high-level meeting to discuss reforms for Pakistan's gas sector, aiming to establish a financially sustainable, efficient, and competitive market. The meeting gathered representatives from various government departments, gas utilities, and the World Bank. Aurangzeb highlighted the importance of learning from global experiences, specifically referencing reforms in Turkey and the United Kingdom, to address challenges such as circular debt, cross-subsidies, unaccounted-for-gas (UFG) losses, and supply-demand imbalances.\n\nParticipants emphasized the need for a structured approach, considering Pakistan's unique institutional framework and market conditions. They stressed the importance of sequencing reforms carefully to protect consumer welfare, maintain security of supply, and create a predictable environment for private-sector participation. The proposed framework would be presented to the Prime Minister, followed by further technical work and stakeholder consultations to refine the approach.\n\nKey outcomes discussed included a phased transition to greater competition, supported by effective regulation, improved operational performance, and a more sustainable gas pricing strategy. The discussions aimed to address legacy liabilities, improve the financial viability of gas utilities, and ensure that existing financial pressures do not hinder the transition to a competitive market. The reforms are expected to result in enhanced energy security, increased private-sector investment, reduced fiscal and sovereign risks, more business-to-business transactions, and more stable gas pricing.\n\nThe meeting reaffirmed the government's commitment to a phased and consultative reform process, focusing on financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and attracting investment while safeguarding consumer interests.",
  "summary": "• Roadmap aims to establish efficient and competitive gas market in Pakistan • Finance minister says need to learn from global experiences to develop sector ISLAMABAD: Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday called for learning from international experiences for reforms in the gas sector to meet the challenges of circular debt, cross-subsidies, unaccounted-for-gas (UFG)…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}