ISLAMABAD: The top leader of a Pakistani religious party protesting against the rising cost of living threatened to occupy major highways around the country during a media interaction on Tuesday, demanding that the government reduce its own expenses and run the affairs of the state more transparently.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) decided to stage a sit-in in Pakistan’s garrison city of Rawalpindi to seek a reduction in power tariffs and overall taxes, with its protest entering the sixth consecutive day.
The top JI leaders, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, has asked the government to make its agreements with independent power producers (IPPs) public before renegotiating them.
“Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has announced that in the next phase of their sit-in, the party will occupy major highways,” said a JI statement.
“The rulers claim they cannot disclose these agreements to the nation,” it added, quoting its top leader. “They can drain the public’s blood and increase bills, but they cannot make these agreements public. This oppression will no longer continue, and a forensic audit of the IPPs should be conducted.”
Naeem-ur-Rehman said demanded that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declare that no minister or government officer will use a vehicle exceeding 1300 cc, suggesting that stopping the use of large vehicles would save 350 billion rupees.
He questioned why Sharif could not work on this issue, accusing his government of being unwilling to benefit the people.
“The public pays for their extravagances through bills and taxes,” he added.
He thanked former Prime Minister Imran Khan for praising the sit-in and mentioned ongoing contacts and meetings with the six-party opposition alliance, Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (Movement for the Protection of Pakistan’s Constitution).
While he noted that the JI would welcome its leaders at its protest demonstration, he said his party did not want to join any alliance.
The JI plans a protest sit-in in front of the Governor House in southern Sindh province later today.
Pakistani religio-political party threatens highway blockades as protests against inflation spiral
https://arab.news/848y5
Pakistani religio-political party threatens highway blockades as protests against inflation spiral
- Jamaat-e-Islami wants PM Shehbaz Sharif to declare no minister or official will use a vehicle exceeding 1300 cc
- The party has announced a protest sit-in in front of the Governor House in southern Sindh province later today
Pakistan to sell excess gas in international markets from Jan.1— petroleum minister
- Pakistan was reportedly exploring ways to reduce $378 million in annual losses from supply glut caused by excess fuel imports
- Move to sell excess LNG in international markets will limit $3.56 billion losses caused since 2018-19, says petroleum minister
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will sell its excess liquefied natural gas (LNG) in international markets from Jan. 1, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said, revealing the move would limit losses caused from a years-long supply gut.
Local and international media outlets had reported in July that Pakistan was exploring ways to sell excess LNG cargoes amid a gas supply glut that government officials said was costing domestic producers $378 million in annual losses. News reports had said Pakistan had at least three LNG cargoes in excess that it imported from Qatar and has no immediate use for.
Speaking to reporters during a press conference on Sunday, Malik said there was an excess of imported gas in Pakistan as the use of this fuel for power generation had reduced in the country during the past few months. He said Islamabad had been forced to sell the gas to local consumers, due to which the circular debt in the gas sector from 2018 till now had ballooned to around Rs1,000 billion [$3.56 billion].
“From Jan. 1 we will sell this excess fuel in international markets to reduce our burden and limit our losses of this Rs1,000 billion [$3.56 billion],” Malik said.
He said this move would also allow Pakistan’s state-owned enterprises in the sector to operate on their full capacity and generate profits and employment.
Malik also spoke of foreign oil companies that were ready to invest millions in the country in the near future.
The minister cited the recent visit of Turkish energy minister to Pakistan which had resulted in the state-owned Turkish Petroleum signing deals to carry out onshore and offshore drilling activities in Pakistan.
“Turkish Petroleum will also open its office in Islamabad, where 10 to 15 Turkish nationals will be working,” Malik said.
He also said that a delegation of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) visit Pakistan this week, adding that it was also expected to collaborate with local companies for oil and gas exploration.
The minister said SOCAR was also opening its office in Pakistan.
“It will also invest millions of dollars in the construction of an oil pipeline from Machike to Thalian in collaboration with the PSO (Pakistan State Oil) and FWO (Frontier Works Organization),” Malik said.
