- NA Opp leader says govt imposed surcharge on petroleum products after a decline in prices in international market only to make money
National Assembly Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah on Tuesday said that the prices of petroleum have been showing a sliding trend internationally and benefits of this trend should be passed on to the masses.
He began the debate by bringing up the recent petrol crisis in the country. He said that the crisis should be probed to see who is responsible for the situation so that similar problems can be avoided in the future.
The PPP leader said that various government departments owed around Rs 210 billion to Pakistan State Oil (PSO), which imports around 60 per cent of the required oil for the country. The remaining 40 per cent is imported by other oil companies.
Khursheed Shah said that due to the decline in oil prices in the international market, small companies had reduced their imports, which aggravated the problem since PSO had no money to meet the entire demand.
He asked who was responsible for the petrol crisis, how much oil the government was planning to import, and what steps were being taken to avoid such a situation in the future?
The opposition leader said the opposition had requisitioned the session because it considered this to be a serious matter; the opposition believed that the Parliament was the right forum to discuss the issue.
He alleged that the government had imposed a surcharge on oil after a decline in its prices in the international market only to make money. The government had not only failed to make adequate arrangements for the required supply of gas, electricity, and petrol, but it was also being unfair to the consumer by not lowering the prices of petroleum products in line with the drop in the world market.
Shah said that the PPP would continue to raise its voice when it saw that democracy and peoples’ rights were threatened.
Taking part in the debate, Naveed Qamar said it that is an important debate and the three concerned ministers, from the Finance, Petroleum and Water and Power sectors, should be present in the House.
He criticized the increase in tax on petrol from 17 % to 27 %, and said that it should not have been imposed, and if the government wanted to make the increase, it should have been discussed in the Parliament.
MQM MNA Muzammal Qureshi said that petrol shortage caused many problems for people in different cities, especially in Punjab and the Federal Capital.
He also asked that the benefit of lower prices be passed onto the masses, while transporters who are not conforming to directives and lowering fares should be taken to task.
He said petroleum prices have a great impact on routine life, but unfortunately, the authorities could not compel transporters to reduce fares.
Participating in the debate, Aisha Syed said the government should find out why the petrol crisis occurred, and those responsible for it should be punished.
She said petroleum prices in the international market are around the $45 mark but unfortunately, people of Pakistan are being deprived of this benefit.
Later, the speaker adjourned the House to meet again on Wednesday at 11.00 a.m. on the request of the opposition leader since there were only a few members sitting in the House.
