Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani earlier this month had announced the formation of one such panel after his administration withdrew an almost nine per cent increase in fuel prices, following protests by opposition groups and masses.
Official levies on petroleum products is a lucrative earning avenue for the government, but it ends up hurting the masses that are already bearing the brunt of rising living costs.
Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Naveed Qamar will be the committee’s convener with representatives from almost all major political parties. Six members are from the National Assembly (NA), and the remaining two are from the parliament’s upper house.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will be represented by National Assembly members Mehtab Abbasi and Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan. MNA Sardar Khan Bahadar Seehar will represent the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is being represented by MNA Suhail Mansoor. MNA Munir Ahmed Khan from Orakzai is also a part of the committee. Finally, Haji Muhammad Adeel and Ghulam Ali will represent the Awami National Party (ANP), and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) respectively.
Also, the deputy chairman Planning Commission, along with the secretaries of finance and petroleum ministries, will also be members.
The committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow to open deliberations, and will furnish its recommendations by the month’s end, which is when the government takes its decision. Petroleum prices are adjusted in Pakistan on a monthly basis due to price variations in international markets, according to officials.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2011.
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