Government comes under fire in Senate

The government on Wednesday came under fire in Senate from allies as well as opposition on the latest increase in petrol prices. The MPs staged a token walkout demanding an immediate withdrawal of the current hike. "The frequent increase in petroleum prices is not fair...," they said in an adjournment motion, which was adopted by the House and approved for debate today [Thursday].
Federal minister for petroleum and natural resources, Dr Asim Hussain said it is the up to the august house to withdraw GST or PDL on POL products and gas for bringing down their prices.
Responding to a number of adjournment motions on the same issue, moved by Professor Khurshid Ahmad and other members in Senate, Asim said the MPs could also come up with financially viable solutions if they want that subsidy on POL products should continue.
As usual the minister reiterated the lame excuse, saying that the decision to raise prices of petroleum products and gas was unfortunate but the situation is not in the hands of the government as Pakistan imports bulk of oil for its consumption from the international market.
This is the reason, we have to set the POL prices, he added, according to global market as our oil production is only 70,000 barrels per day against the demand of 380,000 barrels.
The country is heavily dependent on import of crude oil and domestic prices have to reflect any change in the international market. He said Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) calculates prices on the basis of change in the world fuel prices and rupee-dollar parity.
The members protested, saying the hike is the result of the government's 'mismanagement'. They noted that international crude prices were not going up the way oil prices are increasing in the country. They termed the hike as unjustified and demanded immediate withdrawal.
Meanwhile, Minister for Ports and Shipping, Babar Khan Ghauri told the House that Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) earned a profit of Rs1 billion during the last one year. He said the corporation also paid Rs3.5 billion taxes during last four years. Four vessels have also been added to the PNSC fleet, he added.
Replying to a question on behalf of the communication minister, leader of the House Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari said as a result of road safety education campaign, the number of accidents on highways and motorways has decreased during the last three years.