The newly-appointed Adviser on Finance Shahid Amjad on Tuesday assured Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso that in his opinion the economic situation of the country is manageable and he would bring fiscal stability through efficiency and better administrative measures.
During a meeting at Prime Minister’s House, Amjad told Khoso that he would come up with unique ideas to address electricity load shedding without imposing additional burden on the common man. He said that a tight control on expenditure, plugging of loopholes and better utilisation of resources would be his topmost priority.
The prime minister expressed the confidence that his adviser would use his experience in stabilizing Pakistan’s economic situation.
The adviser also discussed his forthcoming visit to the US where he would hold meetings with the officials of the international Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial institutions.
FAIR GAS DISTRIBUTION:
Meanwhile, the PM has urged the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to accelerate its efforts to explore new gas and oil resources so that reliance on indigenous resources could be increased.
He also directed the Ministry of Petroleum to come up with a fair gas distribution plan so that available resources could be utilized optimally.
The ministry officials informed the PM that the total demand of energy in the country is estimated at 80 million tonnes equivalent of oil while supply was 65 million tonnes. The gap has increased because of lack of exploration of new oil and gas wells and consequent inability to keep pace with the growing demand, the PM was told.
Khoso was informed that the ministry was now working on a plan to increase reliance on indigenous resources by exploring more area for exploration and increase production of oil and gas.