Pakistan's demand for natural gas is anticipated to double by the year 2005, an increase which the country require an increase in gas imports, the state-run Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) said. SSGC managing director Mukhtar Ahmed said gas supplies of 500 million cu. ft. (14.16 million cu. m) per day from five new fields would be available by the end of 2002, but high local demand required other options such as imports. Currently, Pakistan produces 2.4 billion cubic cu. ft. (67.96 million cu. m) a day, one billion cu. ft. a day short of the domestic demand. Ahmed said that gas demand would grow by 3,581 million cu. ft. per day in 2005 and projections for the year 2010 was 3,868 million cu. ft. per day.