ISLAMABAD: Minister for Industries and Production Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani has informed the National Assembly that a summary proposing the easing of restrictions on the import of reconditioned light transport vehicles (LTV) has been sent to Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in order to decrease prices of such vehicles in the domestic markets.
In response to various queries, he confessed that the prices of LTV in the country are relatively high and meetings with manufacturers are being held to bring prices down and in comparison with other countries.
He indicated that companies provide vehicles according to a set procedures and the ministry itself, made every effort to ensure fast delivery of vehicles to the customers.
Touching upon the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), he revealed that it held 840 vehicles with a total area of 19011.76 acres. Some of its area was leased out but the vast majority in the possession of PSM, he added.
The minister also informed that PSM owned one guest house of 47 rooms, in Steel Town, Bin Qasim and provided boarding facilities to foreign delegations visiting PSM for its ongoing projects and supply of bulk material and spare parts. He also adamant that the government had no intention to privatise PSM and was working towards the preservation of the PMS, as steel is the backbone of modern industry. He said that the government is also taking concrete measures to make PSM a profitable institution.
Mir Hazar said that some sugar mills in Sindh have begun crushing and expressed his hope that crushing season would commence within the next two weeks in Punjab.
He denied that there was a shortage of sugar in the market and claimed that government held has sufficient stocks till December.
The minister said the government was also taking steps to control sugar prices and Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has disbursed 50,000 tonnes in the open market to stabilize sugar prices.TCP has already offloaded 400,000 tonnes in open market and TCP has 350,000 tonnes sugar at stock and more 350,000 tonnes sugar is in pipeline, he added. The minister highlighted the fact that the government had abolished tax on raw sugar while allowing the easy import of white sugar in its effort to contain sugar prices.
