KARACHI: A Pakistani religio-political party protesting against the rising cost of living due to increased power tariffs and additional taxes in the federal budget expanded its sit-in to southern Karachi port city on Saturday, where people camped in front of the Governor House for an indefinite period.
Thousands of supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) started a protest demonstration last month in Pakistan’s garrison city of Rawalpindi, gathering at the historic Liaqat Bagh and demanding that the government review stringent economic measures that have financially burdened the people.
Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar announced the government had formed a committee to negotiate with the protesters and address their legitimate demands, though the talks remained inconclusive, prompting JI chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman to expand the sit-in to Karachi.
JI was scheduled to implement its decision on Wednesday but deferred it after the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in an attack believed to have been carried out by Israel in Tehran.
“Today’s protest is against inflation,” Monem Zafar Khan, the party’s Karachi head leading the protest, told Arab News. “It is against the oppressive billing practices of independent power producers and K-Electric, and the plundering of the public’s pockets that we will not accept under any circumstances.”
“Heavy taxes have been imposed on salaried individuals, taxes have been levied on children’s milk and essential goods are also being taxed,” he added. “These are the issues we have come out to protest today.”
The party’s information secretary, Zahid Askari, described Karachi’s sit-in as a continuation of Rawalpindi’s protest, adding that JI would continue until all issues raised by its leadership were resolved.
“Hafiz [Naeem-ur-Rehman] Sahib is leading the protest in Rawalpindi over the issues facing this nation, demanding an end to the oppression inflicted on the Pakistani people [by the government] and the removal of the new taxes imposed on salaried individuals,” he said.
“Our protest in Karachi is a continuation of the effort,” he added. “This protest will last until our demands are met.”
Pakistani religio-political party expands anti-inflation sit-in to Karachi
https://arab.news/44z59
Pakistani religio-political party expands anti-inflation sit-in to Karachi
- Thousands of Jamaat-e-Islami supporters have already been demonstrating against rising cost of living in Rawalpindi
- The party’s Karachi chapter began its sit-in in front of the Governor House in the Pakistani port city on Saturday
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 glut.
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.
