RAWALPINDI: Federal Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources, Ghulam Sarwar Khan has said that to put the economy of the country on track, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is adopting prudent policies.
Addressing a ceremony at Public Secretariat NA 59 Rawalpindi on Saturday, Ghulam Sarwar Khan said that the incumbent government had been working on its reforms agenda with the main focus on improving the country’s economic condition.
He said that the government was well aware of the problems being faced by the poor and middle-class people and it was taking several innovative steps to improve their lives.
Though the government was facing various challenges due to poor economic policies of the past regimes but it was committed to overcoming these crises, the Minister Petroleum and Natural Resources added.
Ghulam Sarwar categorically stated that no one would be given a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) as reiterated by Prime Minister Imran Khan because it was the government’s responsibility to bring all those involved in corruption to justice.
He said that accountability would be held across the board against all corrupt elements to eliminate the menace of corruption. PM Imran Khan was striving to root out corruption, poverty and unemployment from the country and trying to introduce reforms in different sectors to improve the living standards of the people, he added.
The Federal Minister said that the PTI government had taken ‘Clean and Green Pakistan’ initiative as per vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to tackle the issues of pollution and climate change.
He informed that there was a target to plant 100,000 saplings while 35,000 saplings have been achieved to make environment pollution free.
Ghulam Sarwar urged that all the stakeholders should highlight the importance of greenery and clean and green environment which was necessary for human survival.
Responding to a question, he said that Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority had forwarded the summary an increase of Rs11.91 in petrol prices, but the government has approved the summary for an increase in petrol prices and petrol now available at cost Rs98.89 after an increase of Rs6.
The prices of petroleum comparatively less from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and other countries, the Minister Petroleum and Natural Resources maintained.
He expressed his confidence that the year-2019 would prove beneficial for the nation as good news was expected due to the exploration activity, being carried out by Pakistan Exploration and Production (E&P) companies along with international partners around the clock.
The offshore drilling is a joint venture of ENI, Exxon Mobil, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited and Pakistan Petroleum Limited, which is being carried out at an estimated exploration cost of $75 million.
“The Exxon Mobil has given the target depth of 5,500 feet while the minister said that 4,400 feet work has been completed; however, the drilling work is in progress, he added.
