SAFDAR RASHEED

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik has said the government is making every possible effort to ensure uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and provide relief to economically vulnerable segments of society amid a sharp increase in international oil prices.

Talking to the reporters here on Sunday, the minister said the region was passing through a highly sensitive period, while the ongoing conflict and attacks on Saudi Arabia had affected global oil supplies and prices.

He said Pakistan had been facing difficulties caused by high fuel prices for the past several months, adding that diesel prices had reached unprecedented levels in international markets.

Referring to the situation in other countries, Malik said fuel shortages and high prices were also being witnessed in parts of Europe, including France, where diesel prices had crossed €2.40 per litre.

To a question, he said the government had been working to ensure fuel supplies despite financial and resource constraints. “The state will take whatever steps are necessary to protect its interests,” he said, adding that the government was also conscious of the difficulties being faced by ordinary citizens because of expensive fuel.

He said international crude oil prices had risen sharply, with Dubai crude recently closing at around USD118.40 per barrel, while diesel prices had witnessed an even greater increase in the international market.

The minister said the government was carefully reviewing the situation and would take decisions keeping in view both available resources and the financial burden on the public.

He said the government had allocated around Rs30-40 billion towards measures aimed at providing relief to economically weaker sections.

According to the minister, the federal government had also released Rs180 million in a single day under the petrol-related relief mechanism, while payments had been made to around 7,300 petrol pumps across the country.

He said more than two million people had registered under the relevant relief initiative, while around 25 million motorcycles were currently operating on roads across Pakistan.

Malik said the government was also preparing for the challenges expected during the winter season, particularly in view of concerns regarding LNG supplies.

He said he had invited Jamaat-e-Islami leader Liaquat Baloch to his office and briefed him on the government’s position and the prevailing fuel situation.

The minister said the Jamaat-e-Islami had the right to hold peaceful protests but should also present practical solutions to the problems being faced by the country. He; however, said the government would not allow any attempt to march on or besiege Islamabad.

Commenting on criticism from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, Ali Pervaiz Malik said the provincial chief executive should focus on his responsibilities instead of repeatedly criticising the federal government.

On the issue of creating new provinces, the minister said his party’s leadership believed that the matter should be discussed in Parliament.

He said whether through local government elections, creation of new provinces or any other mechanism, decisions should ultimately be taken in a manner that served the interests of the people.