Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Adviser to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan Thursday assured the National Assembly that the elements involved in creating hurdles in passing the benefit of reduced prices of petroleum products to masses would be brought to book. Winding up discussion on a motion to express gratitude to the President on his address to both the houses of Parliament, he said, ‘There is no sympathy in the government for the elements involved in creating hurdles in passing the benefit of reduced prices of petroleum products to masses.’ Whoever did not allow this relief to reach the people would be held accountable, he added.
He said that Prime Minister had given the biggest relief in Asia to the people in terms of decreasing price of petroleum products. He said that the licences of companies involved in wrongdoing would be revoked. He said that institutions in the country could be strengthened through legislation not with speeches. He said that the government started reforms in the institutions but status quo started working against it.
The adviser said Prime Minister Imran Khan had given the directions to immediately formulate a law for prevention of conflict of interest. The Adviser assured that the privatization of Pakistan Steel Mills, Pakistan International Airlines and other institutions would be completed in the most transparent manner and as per the law. He said resources generated would be spent on the welfare of the people. He said that issue of COVID-19 should not have been politicized, but unfortunately opposition did politics on the deadly disease.
Responding to a point raised by Khawaja Asif, Bawar Awan assured the house that he would personally inquire about the issue that hospitals in federal capital were admitting sick people while keeping in view their age. He said treatment could not be linked with age limit. He said that the country’s health system had ability to entertain aged and senior citizens. He said credit went to the PTI government and Prime Minister Imran Khan for exposing the sugar mafia despite the threat of instability of the government.
Following the shortage of petroleum products that Pakistan is currently facing, an independent enquiry committee has been formed by the government to probe into the shortage. Questions have, however, been raised about the independence and competence of the committee. There are reports that the Prime Minister has expressed his serious concern over the shortage.
It needs to be noted that the operations of OMCs are regulated in Pakistan by OGRA and it asks OMCs to maintain 20 days stock cover. This coverage requirement applies to each OMC and therefore any stocks found by the committee with the OMCs actually relate to their complying with OGRA rules. In the event these OMCs do not keep the stocks, they would not be able to supply petrol to their own pumps and would also break the rules set by the Government. The Ministry of Energy is also said to have asked the OMCs to cancel imports of oil when the prices were very low. This action may have benefited certain unknown elements.
It has also been noted that the ‘Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act of 1977’ mainly covers essential food items and does not cover petroleum products, therefore the question of ‘hoarding petrol’ by certain OMCs does not occur.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the Assistant Commissioner Sargodha and District administration Multan on Thursday sealed a petrol pumps involved in illegal stocking of petrol.
