ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani prime minister’s special assistant on petroleum said at a meeting chaired by the PM on Thursday that a “national consensus” was needed against an "impending crisis" of gas shortages expected by winter 2021-22.
Pakistan is chronically short of gas for power production and to supply homes and manufacturers such as fertilizer makers, hobbling the country’s economy.
“While presenting gas production, consumption and transmission data from various provinces, it was informed that the country would face major gas shortage by winter 2021-2022,” the PM office said in a statement released after a meeting of the Council of Common Interests, a constitutional body that resolves disputes of power sharing between the federation and the provinces.
“SAPM for Petroleum gave a detailed presentation to Council of Common Interest on annual demand and supply situation of gas with special reference to future requirements and dwindling domestic gas reserves,” the statement said, adding: “It was recommended that a national consensus needs to be built for major push for new exploration and production, conservation of domestic gas and rationalization of price mechanisms to avoid impending crises.”
The special advisor on petroleum Nadeem Babar said the government was “organizing a summit of industry experts to discuss various options to meet this impending challenge and requested the provinces for their active participation.”
Pakistan last year selected groups that include Exxon Mobil Corp and Royal Dutch Shell to build five liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals as it aims to triple imports and ease gas shortages. The terminals could be in operation within two to three years, the government has said.
National consensus needed to avoid gas shortages 'crisis' in 2021-22 — PM advisor
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National consensus needed to avoid gas shortages 'crisis' in 2021-22 — PM advisor
- Advisor recommends push for new exploration and production, conservation of domestic gas and rationalization of price mechanisms to avoid “impending crises”
- Says government organizing summit of industry experts to discuss various options to meet "impending challenge"
Two Pakistani men indicted in $10 million Medicare fraud scheme in Chicago
- Prosecutors say defendants billed Medicare and private insurers for nonexistent services
- Authorities say millions of dollars in proceeds were laundered and transferred to Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani nationals have been indicted in Chicago for allegedly participating in a $10 million health care fraud scheme that targeted Medicare and private insurers, the US Justice Department said on Thursday.
A federal grand jury charged Burhan Mirza, 31, who resided in Pakistan, and Kashif Iqbal, 48, who lived in Texas, with submitting fraudulent claims for medical services and equipment that were never provided, according to an indictment filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Medicare is the US federal health insurance program primarily serving Americans aged 65 and older, as well as certain younger people with disabilities.
“Rooting out fraud is a priority for this Justice Department, and these defendants allegedly billed millions of dollars from Medicare and laundered the proceeds to Pakistan,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.
“These alleged criminals stole from a program designed to provide health care benefits to American seniors and the disabled, not line the pockets of foreign fraudsters,” he added. “We will not tolerate these schemes that divert taxpayer dollars to criminals.”
Prosecutors said that in 2023 and 2024, the defendants and their alleged co-conspirators used nominee-owned laboratories and durable medical equipment providers to bill Medicare and private health benefit programs for nonexistent services.
According to the indictment, Mirza obtained identifying information of individuals, providers and insurers without their knowledge and used it to support fraudulent claims submitted on behalf of shell companies. Iqbal was allegedly linked to several durable medical equipment providers that filed false claims and is accused of laundering proceeds and coordinating transfers of funds to Pakistan.
Mirza faces 12 counts of health care fraud and five counts of money laundering. Iqbal is charged with 12 counts of health care fraud, six counts of money laundering and one count of making a false statement to US law enforcement. Arraignments have not yet been scheduled.
Three additional defendants, including an Indian, previously charged in the investigation, have pleaded guilty to federal health care fraud charges and are awaiting sentencing.
An indictment contains allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
