Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz Tuesday said the federal cabinet has approved the proposal for constitution of a commission to inquire into the causes of shortage of petrol last month in the country.
Briefing media after the cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Shibli Faraz said the commission will give recommendations to ensure that such a situation does not arise in future and also suggest an action against the delinquent elements. He said that the commission would be headed by Federal Investigation Agency Additional Director General Abu-Bakr Khuda Bux, with Director General (DG) Anti-Corruption Punjab, former DG Oil and Petroleum Division Rashid Farooq and Petroleum Institute of Pakistan Chief Executive Officer Asim Murtaza as members.
Shibli Faraz said the cabinet was informed that due to logistical problems and some issues of the refineries, the availability of Euro 5 petroleum products in the country would be ensured from September 1 instead of August 1. He said the cabinet also discussed the Karachi situation in the wake of recent rains, which flooded the city roads and streets. It seemed that there was no government there, he said, lamenting that the Pakistan People’s Party government has done nothing for the development of Sindh, including Karachi. “It is a clear evidence of the Sindh government’s incompetence and the people of Karachi cannot be left at its mercy anymore. The federal government would take every possible measures to ensure relief for the Karachiites,” he added.
Shibli said the prime minister expressed his satisfaction over the people’s astounding response to the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, which would not only provide shelter but had the potential to lift the entire economy.
The minister said the cabinet was informed that the country had sufficient stock of wheat and sugar, and there was no issue of demand and supply. It was being provided to the flour mills in the Punjab, and the provincial government was providing subsidy on the product. Similarly, the wheat and its flour were available in other provinces also, he added.
Shibli Faraz said the coronavirus situation was also reviewed in the meeting. The PM expressed his satisfaction over reduction in the corona cases in the country and appealed to the people to exercise care and adopt precautionary measures on Eidul Azha and during the Muharram-ul-Haram as the pandemic was not yet over.
To a question, he said the responsibilities of the federal and provincial governments are well defined in the constitution and a case in that regard is already pending in the Sindh High Court. The PM asked the attorney general for Pakistan to pursue so that the Centre could play its constitutional role properly.
About the increase in the price of wheat and flour, the minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan is fully aware of the situation. The provincial chief secretaries were summoned Monday for a meeting on the matter and all the chief ministers had also been directed to not only ensure smooth availability of flour but also its fine quality.
To another question, he stressed the people to deem it their social responsibility by strictly following the standard operating procedures and precautionary measures to contain the coronavirus on Eidul Azha and during Muharram-ul-Harram. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had been playing the pivotal role as the ambassador of Kashmiris and the advocate of Kashmir cause very effectively. Pakistan strongly condemned the Indian actions of August 5 last year and many events were being organised on the occasion of its first anniversary, he added.
