Petroleum products: Consumers will get relief in prices, Senate told

Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Jam Kamal Khan Wednesday informed the Senate that consumers of petroleum products will get relief in prices in view of prevailing trend in the international market. He was responding to a call attention notice regarding non-transfer of benefits of decrease in the prices of petroleum products in the international market to the public moved by ANP Senator Alyas Ahmad Bilour.
The Minister said that price of crude oil is continuously decreasing in the international market and it is likely to decrease further up to $83 per barrel in the current month. He said that the benefits will be passed on the consumers from November 01, 2014 with a rationalised pricing formula based on average decrease of the month of October. He said that the government cannot pass on the benefits of the oil decrease to the consumers as the fuel was not being purchased on the daily basis and that there is also price regulation mechanism under which the petroleum products prices are fixed on first date of every month.
He further said that the government passes on the relief to the consumers whenever there was decrease in oil prices in the international market. The House was also informed during question hour by Minster of State for Interior Balighur Rehman that Pakistan is one of the top three countries which had largest drug seizures. He said that 200 people were arrested at various airports last year for smuggling narcotics to different countries and cases have been registered against them.
To another question, he said the federal government has imposed ban on issuance of arms licenses in order to contain illegal arms. He said currently the process of verification and computerisation of issued armed licenses is underway by National Database Registration Authority (NADRA). However, in a written reply Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told the House Prime Minister's Office through letter directed Ministry of Interior that foolproof security may be given to Justice Tassadq Hussain Jillani and his family (even after his retirement) due to serious threat to him and his family.
He said that two relatives of the Justice were also kidnapped in Multan and in addition to the provision of foolproof security, the judge also requested for PB/NBP arms licenses in favour of his son Muhammad Saqib Jillani who resides with him. Accordingly 2 x NPB and 1 x PB arms licences were issued with the approval of Prime Minister, he added. Also in view of life threat to Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani 1 x NPB arms licence was issued, he said. The Minister said that though the government has imposed ban on issuance of arms licenses and the said licenses were issued in relaxation of ban as security of individual/family was involved and in pursuance of directions of PM Office. He said that prohibited bore arms licence is issued with the approval of Prime Minister as per arms Policy 2012 while NPB arms licenses are issued with the approval of Minister for Interior.