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The Minister for Ports and Shipping, Babar Khan Ghauri, on Friday informed the National Assembly that commercial operation of Gwadar Port is expected during this year. The deal is being negotiated with private port operators, he added.
Replying to a question from Shabbir Ahmad Khan, the Minister said that the project was partially completed. Negotiations with private port operators for operation of the port were in process.
After finalisation of the process and agreement, the port would be opened for commercial purposes, he added.
Replying to a question from Yasmeen Rehman, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Tanvir Hussain, said that B-777 aircraft purchased by PIA can directly fly to USA, but there are some security concerns from USA which have to be met before direct flights start. "We are trying to improve our system as per their needs," he added. The special security equipment for this has been supplied, he said.
To a supplementary question raised by Pervez Ashraf, he said that US is over-cautious about security and seems to discourage direct flight. "Otherwise, we are following and meeting all international security standards."
Tanvir said that sale revenue and per seat ratio of PIA flights has doubled which clearly shows the confidence and satisfaction of passengers.
Answering another question, he said that the escalated price of petroleum, which has 70 percent effect on fares, is the sole reason for high fares. Discarding the remarks of Nayyar Bokhari, he said that he had never claimed that PIA was running in profits. He said that all Saudi airlines and other internationals, none was in running in profits despite very cheap oil prices. "We are non-oil producing country; and so we can not be very competitive."
He said that PIA did not generate any profit during financial year 2005 from international/Haj/Umra flights due to the exorbitant increase in fuel prices. However, total income was Rs 47.3 billion from international flights, while from Haj the income generated was Rs 4.7 billion, and from Umra Rs 1.7 billion in 2005, he added.
Gul Rehman criticised PIA for the non-availability of tickets, though flights were never full, and often the plane was seen empty. Parliamentary Secretary for Defence accepted the allegation, saying tat this complaint had been received several times. He offered the member to accompany him for on-the-spot checking of the e-ticketing system of PIA. If any discrepancy is found, action would be taken, he stated.
The secretary further told members that there was no proposal for privatisation of PIA. He said that all Fokkers had been grounded after the Multan crash and now the flights would only start after procurement of seven APR-42s, which would be received by June 2007. "One has already been received, which would be operative for Balochistan soon," he added.
To another question from Yasmeen Rehman, Tanvir said that Pakistan is importing 110,000 barrels oil per day from Saudi Arabia and total 34,661,0004 barrels oil was supplied in 2005-06. The price was $59.37 per barrel last year and the total imports amounted to $2 billion.
Answering a supplementary question, he said no free or concessional crude oil is received from Saudi Arabia. On a question from Abdul Akbar Chitrali why the post of Federal Mohtasib had not yet been still filled, Minister for Law Muhammad Wasi Zafar admitted that the post was vacant. "The appointment is the sole discretion of the President, who is yet to identify a suitable candidate for the post. This post is filled usually by a senior retired Judge of Supreme Court," he added.
He further clarified that meanwhile Federal Tax Ombudsman was looking after the cases pertaining to general complaints like electricity bills of the companies and other similar cases.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2006

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