ISLAMABAD Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Syed Naveed Qamar, has said that loadshedding under Gas Load Management Plan will be ended before March as gas consumption has reduced considerably due to change in the weather. He said this while addressing a function organised on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of CNG industry here on Thursday. The function was organised by All Pakistan CNG Association. The Federal Minister said that gas loadshedding under Gas Load Management Plan would be reduced to one day a week before February 15. Later talking to the media persons, the Minister said that petroleum prices might be reduced in March, as prices in international market were on the declining side. He said his Ministry was not responsible for the hike in petroleum prices, as Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority fixed the tariffs. He said Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iran regarding Pak-Iran gas pipeline project would be signed on February 15. We are trying to find some permanent solution of energy shortage and in this regard, we are importing LNG, besides exploring new reservoirs in the country, he added. Prices of LNG would be determined in the next few days, he further said. Earlier talking in the function, Syed Naveed Qamar said, CNG sector is an important part of our economy and it is out of question to end this. This is the only sector where people from all classes including the poor, middle and rich have invested, he said and added that CNG sector couldnt be ignored. Naveed said, Our first priority is to end power loadshedding in the country, but I cannot predict when it would be ended. Ban on new licenses of CNG stations would continue and in future we will also keep eye on it, he said. On the demand of CNG Association, the Minister said that he had ordered the gas companies to clear the estimated bills for CNG stations early, as their clearance took long time. We have constituted a CNG board under my chairmanship in which DG Gas, MDs, and representatives of CNG Association are included. The board will resolve all the problems of the CNG sector with consultations, he said. Ghiyas Paracha, Chairman All Pakistan CNG Association, said that CNG sector was passing through a tough time. He said, There is Rs 185 billion investment in this sector. 2.6 million vehicles use CNG fuel and out of them 0.5 million are public transport vehicles. He said that CNG sector was using only six percent gas and added that it was the only sector which paid taxes in advance.