Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Nadeem Babar said that 20 new oil and gas exploration blocks will be auctioned by the government next month as part of its strategy to achieve self-reliance in the energy sector.

As per the details, Nadeem Babar gave an interview to US-based Bloomberg. He said that Pakistan, in collaboration with Russia will also start building a 1,100 kilometer gas pipeline to transport the commodity from Karachi to Lahore.

He added that Pakistan, which imported its first cargo five years ago, currently had two Liquefied Natural Gas terminals.

Moreover, he said two more LNG terminals are expected to start in the next few years.

Above all, the SAPM said Pakistan has also decided to import cleaner Euro-5 diesel from next month.