Fuel shortages: Three ministries to share blame in future, says PM

Reviews supply and demand situation of petrol for the next two months

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday apportioned blame among three key ministries for the country’s debilitating fuel shortages, warning them that they would have to face the music if another such crisis erupts in the future, sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune.

The prime minister’s remarks came after he had reviewed the supply and demand situation of petrol for the next two months.

According to sources, PM Nawaz categorically asked Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Water and Power Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif to cooperate and support Federal Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while dealing with fuel affairs.

The premier also directed petroleum ministry officials to take instructions and suggestions of Ishaq Dar and Khawaja Asif like their own minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in future, the sources added.

According to an official handout, the prime minister has instructed all the ministries concerned for seamless coordination to ensure a steady supply of petrol across the country. People should also be kept informed about the current situation to avoid any confusion on the issue, the handout said.



The federal petroleum minister, the sources revealed, left for Qatar Thursday morning to sign an agreement between the two governments on LNG (liquefied natural gas).

Th prime minister, according to sources, was informed that the situation of fuel availability had vastly improved and would become better in the coming days. The premier expressed satisfaction over the efforts of the authorities.

Earlier this week, the prime minister sacked all five high-ups of the petroleum ministry over their negligence in creating the fuel crisis and his two-member committee fixed Ogra as responsible for the fuel shortage.

The committee also pointed out many factors which contributed their role in the shortage, including one of the major factors was lack of coordination and cooperation among the three federal ministries – petroleum, water and power, and finance.

Family discussion

Sources close to the Sharif family said Premier Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz, Ishaq Dar and Maryam Nawaz focused on the petroleum issue at the PM House Wednesday night.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2015.