Caretaker Minister for Commerce, Textile Industry, Privatisation and Investment, Alam Monnoo, has said that the new government will have no option but to further increase oil prices. Talking to newsmen after a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Saturday.
He said that oil prices have gone record up in international market and recent increase in oil prices in Pakistan still has a very large gap which required to be filled soon. Referring to overall economic conditions, he said that economic indicators were showing positive signs; exports have increased from 9 billion dollars in 1999 to 17 billion dollars in 2008; and stock exchanges were showing positive signs. Replying to a question about banks mark-up, he said that the government could not direct the banks to reduce mark-up rates.
"They are independent, and they can make their own decisions about increase or decrease markup rates," he added. Earlier, addressing KCCI members, he admitted that the textile sector was facing worst crisis. This sector neither has gas nor power to run the units properly.
He said that the country was facing acute power and gas shortage. Industrial units in Punjab were the worst hit by power and gas crisis. He advised the general public to conserve energy to help government and help industrial sector.
Referring to privatisation, the minister said that the government has a number of units for privatisation, including Jamshoro power plant, Pakistan Machine-Tool Factory.
Monnoo said that the government wants to sell all loss making units as soon as possible. Pakistan Machine Tool Factory has recently demanded Rs 1 billion to meet its day-to-day expenses and to pay salaries, he added.
He criticised and said that some unscrupulous elements were trying to distort the country's image. The recently held free and fair elections had improved Pakistan's image abroad. This image had been distorted by killing an army general in suicidal bomb attack. Welcoming the guests, KCCI President Shamim Ahmed Shamsi said that the government should make a well thought out plan to bring out of crisis imports, exports and textile sector.