BeNewz
Related Articles
BeNewz Report
The Federal Cabinet has decided to lift the ban on new gas connections while also declaring agricultural and climate emergencies across the country.
At a joint press conference, Federal Minister for Energy Ali Pervez Malik and Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the Prime Minister and the cabinet had agreed to resume new gas connections to ease public hardship. They explained that while LPG is the most expensive fuel and burdens households with high cylinder costs, new RLNG (re-gasified liquefied natural gas) connections will now be provided. Although RLNG is an imported fuel, they noted it remains 30–35% cheaper than LPG.
The energy minister added that the cabinet meeting also reviewed the damage caused by recent floods and discussed measures for relief and rehabilitation. He assured that the federal government would fulfill its responsibilities toward affected communities. The cabinet also discussed the outcomes of the Prime Minister’s recent visit to China and the agreements achieved during the trip.
Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the cabinet had formally approved the declaration of a nationwide climate emergency, noting that Pakistan is increasingly facing the effects of global climate change. The Minister for Climate Change has been directed to present a report to the Prime Minister within 15 days, after which the cabinet will decide on strategies to mitigate climate-related risks and damages.
He further announced the imposition of an agricultural emergency to assess the scale of losses faced by farmers due to flooding and to design compensation and recovery measures. He emphasized that both decisions—on climate and agriculture—cannot be implemented without consultation and support from provincial governments. To this end, the Prime Minister has called for a meeting of chief ministers to finalize a coordinated plan.
Political observers note that the decisions reflect the government’s twin priorities of addressing immediate public concerns over energy shortages while also developing long-term frameworks to protect the economy from agricultural collapse and climate disasters. Pakistan’s agriculture sector, already under pressure from successive floods, is seen as requiring urgent support to safeguard food security and rural livelihoods.
By lifting the ban on gas connections, the government expects to provide relief to households and businesses, while the climate and agricultural emergency declarations are intended to ensure coordinated action at both the federal and provincial levels. These steps, officials argue, represent a proactive approach to strengthening resilience against both energy crises and environmental challenges.
