Pakistan has imposed restrictions on fuel oil imports with immediate effect, as domestic consumption declines amid rising LNG imports and the shutdown of several fuel oil power plants. A new energy committee, headed by the minister for power, has also been constituted to approve future fuel oil imports and monitor output from domestic refineries, demand from the power sector, and stocks at oil marketing companies, an official with the ministry of energy said. The decision was taken December 28 at a meeting in Islamabad attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, minister for power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari and officials from oil refineries, oil marketing companies and the ministry of energy. “During the meeting, a decision was made to restrict imports of fuel oil with immediate effect. Only four cargoes, which were booked by Pakistan State Oil, would be received,” the official said. Pakistan State Oil deferred four cargoes in November, one of which is due to arrive in the first days of 2018, and another three by the end of January, the same official added.