National Assembly to form panel to determine POL prices

19 Mar, 2005

The government on Friday agreed to constitute a subcommittee of National Assembly to determine POL prices. Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Jadoon made the announcement while winding up the debate on petroleum prices. It is pertinent to mention here that another sub-committee of Upper House is still to furnish its recommendations on the same subject. Jadoon said that the government was fixing oil prices through a mechanism in accordance with the international market rate.
He said that the government is ready to constitute a subcommittee of the lower house to determine the prices issue.
He said that MNAs are welcome to join the Senate subcommittee or are interested to form another committee. He said that the government was focusing on more explorations to meet the country's needs.
Earlier, Naveed Qamar said that the system of price fixing needed to be changed and revamped.
The minister opined that prices should be revised on quarterly basis as taxes on petroleum products should also be reduced.
Hafiz Hussain Ahmed demanded induction of parliamentarians in the price determination mechanism. He said that oil pipeline from Iran would ensure availability of cheap petrol in the country.
Other speakers also condemned oil price hike, saying that it affects every segment of the society.
The House was informed that Nadra had made no decision to issue identity cards to Bengalis and Beharis in Karachi.
Replying to a calling attention notice, Minister of State for Interior Shahzad Wasim informed the House that Islamabad Capital Territory Police had found 107 dead bodies in the federal capital during five years, out of which 51 are unidentified yet.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan introduced a bill to provide for the establishment of Pakistan Intellectual Property Rights Organisation [The Pakistan Intellectual Property Rights Organisation Bill, 2005].
Chairman of the Standing Committee on Defence, Shujaat Hussain presented the report of the standing committee on the calling attention notice regarding non-observance of merit in PIA in the recruitment of Flight Stewards and filling up of other vaccines, moved by Riaz Fatyana, Ishaq Khan Khakwani, Sardar Saleem Jan Mazari, Muhammad Wasi Zafar and Kunwar Khalid Younas.

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