ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz on Tuesday said a commission to probe last month's fuel shortages had been constituted with the approval of the federal cabinet.
Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Faraz said the commission would give recommendations to ensure that such a situation would not arise in future, and suggested action against the delinquent elements.
He said the commission would be headed by Federal Investigation Agency Additional Director General Abu-Bakr Khuda Bux, with the Director General (DG) Anti-Corruption Punjab, former DG Oil and Petroleum Division Rashid Farooq and Petroleum Institute Pakistan Chief Executive Officer Asim Murtaza as its members.
Faraz said the Cabinet was informed that due to logistical problems and some issues of refineries, the availability of Euro-V petroleum products in the country would be ensured from September 1st instead of August 1st.
He said the Cabinet also discussed the deluge of civic problems in Karachi in the wake of recent rains.
It seemed that there was no government there, he said, lamenting that the Pakistan People's Party's government had done nothing for the development of Sindh, including Karachi, "the most important city of the country".
It was a clear evidence of the Sindh government's incompetence, and the people of Karachi could not be left at its mercy anymore.
The federal government would take every possible measure to ensure relief for the Karachiites, he added.
The choking of Karachi's sewerage system, he said, was another proof that in the past few decades all institutions had been ruined as the city's infrastructure was not revamped.
There was no clue where the billions of rupees of funds had been spent in the name of development, he added.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf member of the assemblies from Karachi, he said, had been asked to remain in touch with the people of their respective constituencies, and give proposals for betterment.
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.
He said the prime minister expressed his dismay over non-payment of salaries to the media workers by media house owners, and assured the matter would be resolved immediately after Eid.
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 said, while adding that the provincial government was providing 16 billion rupees in subsidy on the product.
He, however, said that the private and public sector had been allowed to import wheat to meet the deficit of 1.5 million tons.
The district administrations had been directed to take strict action against the hoarders of wheat and sugar, he added.
Faraz said the coronavirus situation was also reviewed in the meeting.
The prime minister expressed his satisfaction over reduction in the number of coronavirus cases in the country, and appealed to the people to exercise care and adopt precautionary measures on Eidul Azha and during Muharramul Haram as the pandemic was not yet over.
The minister also said the government was taking all possible measures to ensure provision of quality wheat flour and sugar at low prices.
He said the country had sufficient stock of wheat and sugar, and at present there was no issue of inadequate supply.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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