Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik on Wednesday said that a scheme to provide cheap petrol to lower-income groups is being prepared and will be finalized after consultation with all stakeholders.
Talking to the media here, the minister said that various proposals are being considered, including using the BISP network, issuing specific subsidy cards, or generating one-time passwords (OTP) to facilitate eligible citizens. He also announced that oil traders had also submitted some proposals, the state news agency said.
The Ministry has been examining all the proposals and will finalize the most feasible and practical proposals and after consultation with all stakeholders will propose a mechanism so that it is possible to effectively ensure the implementation of the scheme and the provision of relief to citizens.
The minister said that oil marketers’ associations and trade bodies are extending cooperation with the government in its efforts to ensure an adequate supply of POL products and discourage black marketing, and fuel hoarding.
“Black marketing and concealment will not be tolerated at any cost and such actions will be dealt with strictly,” he promised.
When asked about the introduction of gas tariffs, the minister said that based on natural gas consumption, a comprehensive mechanism was proposed in which 60 percent of consumers with lower consumption would be protected.
But natural gas prices would increase for consumers with gas volume above 0.9 cubic hectometers, he added, reiterating that the gas tariff has increased for people who can afford it. According to him, low-income consumers and the middle class were not burdened by the increase in gas rates.
The Minister said that negotiations with Russia for the provision of oil are going well and it is expected that all matters will be resolved soon and Pakistan will be able to receive the oil shipment within a month.
He said natural gas reserves are depleting and the required amount of natural gas is not in the system to ensure the gas supply.
He added that the demand for natural gas starts to increase in November due to changes in the structure of gas consumption, especially in the winter season.
He said that the gas intake has increased in Balochistan due to rains and cold weather which has affected the overall supply situation, but the situation has now started improving and will continue to improve in the coming days.
“The government has made a plan to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity and gas to consumers during Sehar and Iftar hours and gas companies to take action in this regard,” the minister said.
Some complaints of gas supply disruptions were received and the government taking cognizance of the complaints directed the concerned companies to resolve the situation, saying that there were some deficiencies in the gas supply infrastructure which are causing supply problems and was on a special visit to Karachi, to deal with these complaints.
