Ijaz kakakhel Islamabad
The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat on Thursday asked the government to apprise the Committee on the reasons for not acquiring LNG when it was available in global markets at the rate of USD 4.0 per unit as opposed to USD 30.5 at this time.
The direction was issued in Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, which held on Thursday in parliament house while Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed was on chair. Deliberating over procurement of furnace oil instead LNG at exorbitant rates, Chairman OGRA and the Government were directed to apprise the Committee on the reasons for not acquiring LNG when it was available in global markets at the rate of USD 4.0 per unit as opposed to USD 30.5 at this time.
The Committee demanded an inquiry related to the closure of two local foundries as a result of producing high cost energy via importing furnace oil at inflated rates. Asserting that this was a classic example of unimaginative planning, Chairman Committee, Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed said that this process may be tainted with ulterior motives. A report on the fiasco is to be submitted within two weeks.
The committee also took stringent notice of the issues related to the promotion criteria of the Central Selection Board. Chairman Committee, Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed was of the view that these are issues of utmost importance that impact numerous lives and therefore must be dealt with responsibly. He stressed the need to revisit redundant policies and ensure that these are replaced with rules and strategies that benefit the masses.
Senator Saadia Abbasi, Senator Khalida Ateeb, Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, Senator Talha Mehmood attended the meeting along with and senior officers of the Establishment Division, Government of Balochistan, OGRA and PTDC. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mr. Ali Muhammad Khan was also present.
Discussing promotion criteria of the Central Selection Board Secretary Establishment was instructed to revisit the promotion criteria and Objective Assessment Form for the Central Selection Board. It was asserted that the process must be rationalized since it leaves much to the discretion of Board members. Objectivity and justifiability was stressed.
