Cabinet okays probe into fuel shortage

The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal for the constitution of a commission of inquiry to investigate the causes of the recent shortage of petrol in the country and suggest action against the delinquent elements.

Briefing the media after the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Information Minister Senator Shibli Faraz said that the commission would also give its recommendations to ensure that such a situation does not arise in the future.

The commission would be headed by Additional Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Abu-Bakr Khuda Bux, and comprise the director general (DG) of the Anti-Corruption Establishment of Punjab, former DG Oil and Petroleum Division Rashid Farooq and the Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Institute, Pakistan, Asim Murtaza as members.

According to information minister Faraz, the availability of Euro V petroleum products in the country would be ensured from September 1 instead of August 1 because of logistical problems and some issues of the refineries.

The cabinet also discussed the Karachi situation in the wake of recent rains, which flooded the city roads. “It seemed that there was no government there,” Faraz said, lamenting that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government had done nothing for the development of Sindh, including Karachi.

It was a clear evidence of the Sindh government’s incompetence, Faraz said, adding that the people of Karachi could not be left at its mercy anymore. Though such issues had become a provincial subject after 18th Amendment, he continued, the federal government would take every possible measure to ensure relief to the Karachiites.

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 funds had been spent in the name of development, he added.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members of assemblies from Karachi, the information minister said, had been asked to remain in touch with the people of their respective constituencies and give proposals for betterment.

Faraz said the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over an astounding public response to the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, which would not only provide shelter but had the potential to lift the economy. He also said the prime minister showed his dismay at non-payment of salaries to the media workers.

Sufficient wheat, sugar stocks

The cabinet was informed that the country had sufficient stock of wheat and sugar, and there was no issue of demand and supply. Wheat was being provided to the flour mills in Punjab, and the provincial government was providing subsidy on the product. Similarly, the wheat and flour were available in other provinces also, he added.

Faraz, however, said the private and public sectors had been allowed to import wheat to meet the deficit of 1.5 million tonnes. The district administrations had been directed to take strict action against the hoarders of wheat and sugar, he added.

Meanwhile, Faraz said the coronavirus situation was also reviewed in the meeting and the prime minister expressed satisfaction over reduction in the Covid-19 cases in the country and appealed to the people to exercise care and adopt precautionary measures on Eidul Azha and during the Muharram ul Haram as the pandemic was not yet over.