The Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) on Tuesday said that stripping Ogra’s powers is a conspiracy hatched by influential elements to secure a freehand for dishonest petroleum sector personnel that are playing havoc with the country.
An official statement by the chamber stated that “advisor to the Prime Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr. Asim Hussain has been conspiring against Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to promote personal interests while spending too much time in blaming other for his failures”.
IWCCI President Farida Rashid, said “Ogra is not subservient to the petroleum ministry and is answerable to the Cabinet only. However the petroleum mafia continues to get away childish plots against the regulator in a bid to get blank cheque for exploitation.”
Speaking to women entrepreneurs, she said that the campaign against Orga is also aimed at discouraging honest officers to total submission which is no more a possibility in the current set of events. Farida Rashid said that the Adviser should demonstrate courage to admit his failures and stop placing blame elsewhere. She said that gas distribution companies have failed to stop theft of gas while the adviser has been convincing government to provide Rs 7 billion subsidy to gas companies to overcome losses which is shocking as well as shameful.
Farida said that the government must clarify why it is not taking any action against violators and what is barring them from publication of lists of CNG outlets involved in theft with the names of operators and officials of the gas companies involved in the crime. Farida Rashid said that apart from business community and masses, the politicians hailing from the ruling coalition are also weary of the way energy sector has been handled as they fear a backlash from masses in the upcoming elections.
She added that a strict action against theft of electricity over the years would have deterred those involved in gas theft to the tune of around 8.5 crore per day.
She stressed that Canadian nationals cannot be allowed to destroy Rs 400 billion investments in the CNG sector which is paying around Rs 86 billion in taxes, providing economical fuel and employment to millions.
Doctors should not try to manage hospitals, clinics and dispensaries and stop playing havoc with country’s energy mix to fulfil personal ambitions, she advised.
Rashid concluded that “masses have been parted with billion in the name of democracy but there is no move so far for accountability or to inhibit lavish spendings funded by tax money”.