The government's failure to explain rationale behind last week's raise in POL prices irked the opposition members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources on Monday, and sparked a near walk out from the meeting. The committee has summoned the Secretary petroleum in its next sitting to give a comprehensive briefing after State Minister, Mir Naseer Mengal could not defend the move.
The situation got out of control when opposition lawmakers created rumpus over what they termed a biting increase in POL prices and asked the Minister of State for Petroleum to justify it.
The opposition members even threatened to boycott the meeting when the state minister refused to brief them over government's much-criticised move.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, Chairperson of the Standing Committee Dr Noorjehan Panezai requested Naseer Mengal to brief the members about fresh increase in prices of petroleum products.
It is worth mentioning that the committee was scheduled to review the progress of Saindak Metal Project.
The Minister of State for Petroleum agreed to brief the meeting but faced great embarrassment, as all opposition members vehemently condemned the soaring petroleum prices.
They were of the view that the move would badly affect the poverty-stricken people, who are already going through the worst inflationary era.
Justifying the government's decision, Mir Naseer Mengal said the government had no other option except to increase the POL prices following surge in international market. However, he failed to provide any satisfactory and convincing response to opposition lawmakers.
Keeping in view the opposition's strong reservations, it was decided to hold another meeting in next 15 days in which Secretary petroleum would give a comprehensive briefing about soaring POL prices.
The standing committee also reviewed the progress of Saindak Metal Project.
According to a statement issued after the meeting, the committee was briefed by the Additional Secretary of Petroleum and Natural Resources about the salient features, design and leasing contract of Saindak Copper Gold deposit.
The meeting was informed that the project did not operate profitably due to lack of trained manpower and capital. The committee directed the management of Saindak project to carry out welfare projects in the area and provide maximum employment opportunities to the local people.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Makhdoomzada Basit Bukhari, Khawaja Sheraz, Liaquat Abbas, Rahila Yahya Munawar, Bilal Ahmed Virk, Haji Khuda Bux Nizamani, Dr Abdul Ghaffar Khan Jatoi, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Haji Gul Muhammad Dummar, Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Jeelani, Manzoor Hussain Wassan and Rana Mehmood-ul-Hassan.
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