The country is facing the worst crises of natural gas as its production is far below the growing demand. This is due to lack of future planning and inaction by successive governments during the past many years to start work on the Iran-Pakistan gas project. The IPI was put in limbo under the pressure of oil marketing companies and America. The other reason is allowing the large number of CNG gas stations by the gas distribution companies. Now the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Company Ltd (SNGPL) has stopped supplying gas to industries and CNG stations for three days in a week. The shortage of gas is having a disastrous effect on the economy of the country. The Iran-Pakistan gas project remains a pipedream. The LNG US$ 20 billion marshal project to import gas to meet the requirement of Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) consumers has been in the apex court due to lack of transparency in awarding the contract to a particular company. The question is whether these projects are in our national interest or not? How come without gas the country would be able to keep its industries in motion? The solution to gas crises is that the government should privatize SNGPL and SSGCL and turn to public-private partnership to own and manage these companies while also allowing others natural gas distribution companies to operate. The government should also use coal reserves and convert them into natural gas and crude oil by inviting the international companies. The growing energy demand of the country can only be met by using all the available resources. ENGR. S.T. HUSSAIN, December 4.