PTI govt to ensure gas supply to domestic consumers

SAPM Firdous says false claims were being made regarding hike in gas prices

SIALKOT: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the authorities concerned to supply gas to the domestic consumers even if it means discontinuing supply to the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations.

Addressing a news conference in Sialkot on Sunday, the SAPM observed that false claims were being made regarding surge in gas prices.

"The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) is merely a regulator, which forwards its input to the government, while keeping in view the people's needs and problems.

"The premier is aware of the people's problems and the government understands that citizens cannot afford costly gas.

"We cannot act on the recommendations put forth by the authority. We must come up with a realistic strategy so that we do not put additional burden on the nation," she said.

Firdous mentioned that due to the cold wave which had gripped the country there was an increase in the demand for gas.

"Keeping this in mind, there has been a 12% increase in gas pressure, while overall use has increased by almost 2.5% compared to the corresponding period of last year," she said

Commenting on the recent tensions between India and Pakistan, Firdous said, "The people of Pakistan stand behind the army. Our media is showing the true picture of what is currently going on at the border”.

She said that Modi's extremist policies had ruined the secular status of India and the Indian people had rejected his extremist ideology.

The SAPM also took a jibe at the opposition, saying that those who plundered the country were now posing as people's representatives.

Referring to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's speech, Firdous said that Pakistan People's Party (PPP) only seemed to making arrangements to remember Benazir Bhutto whose death anniversary is commemorated on December 27.

“Democracy is not the name of power, it is the name of public opinion, she declared.

She said that the opposition decried that the democracy during the tenure of PM Imran was not as they wanted.

"The prime minister is not in favour of the type of democracy where you worry about the well-being of your own children and not that of the nation's children.

"Your own conduct is undemocratic. You should apply democracy to your own province," she pointed out to Bilawal.

Firdous also spoke about Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President who has moved the court for removal of her name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

"During elections, you used to raise the slogan 'vote ko izzat do' (give respect to vote). You claimed that you would stand by the people during their hardships. So why are you all fleeing the country one by one," she questioned.

"Imran Khan is the saviour of this country. He will enable the nation to stand on its own two feet," she asserted.

Firdous said that harmony among the institutions was the need of the hour.