ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has approved gas load management plan for the winter season in order to better deal with the gas shortage.
Briefing the media persons about the cabinet decisions on Tuesday, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said under the gas load management plan, gas supply to the CNG sector will remain suspended from December 1 till February 15, 2022.
He, however, said gas supply will be fully provided to the independent power producers, fertilizer companies and export-oriented industries. He said five percent additional gas will be provided to the power plants being operated on liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The minister said the gas saved from the CNG, cement and captive power plants will be provided to the domestic consumers.
Fawad said the use of electricity is also being encouraged in the winter season and its tariff has been reduced for domestic consumers in order to entice them to shift their appliances such as geysers and heaters to electricity. He warned, “Our gas reserves are fast depleting and we have to evolve an alternative strategy to deal with the situation.”
He said that Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan gave a detailed briefing to the cabinet about the new variant of Covid-19.
The cabinet asked the provincial governments and the public to get the vaccination process completed to better deal with the new variant, he added.
Fawad said the cabinet also discussed matters pertaining to the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs). He said given the amendment in the law, it is imperative to use the EVMs in the future by-elections, adding that the cabinet also voiced its concerns over the recently appeared video showing purchase of votes in Lahore.
The information minister said the Election Commission of Pakistan should take this matter as well as the matter of rigging in Senate elections to the logical conclusion.
The minister said all formalities regarding Saudi Arabia’s $3 billion safe deposits in State Bank of Pakistan and $1.2 billion of oil facility have been completed. He said the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation will also provide $762 million to Pakistan which will help stabilise rupee in the market.
He said the federal cabinet meeting also reviewed the prices of essential commodities and it was informed that the weekly price index has decreased by 0.67 percent.
The information minister said that Pakistan will provide 50,000 metric tons of wheat to Afghanistan on humanitarian basis.
He said that during the cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister directed the FIA to nab the elements involved in human trafficking. The cabinet also accorded approval to hold a special meeting of the OIC foreign ministers in Pakistan.
He said the cabinet tasked Advisor to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam with preparation of a long term plan to tackle the issue of smog.
The minister said it is noted that the consumption of urea has abruptly increased in Sindh by 53 percent in last six months. It showed that hoarding is rampant in the province and smugglers are being facilitated in the province, he said, adding due to this reason Punjab’s farmers are suffering and buying urea from black market. The Sindh government must check the hoarding to provide solace to farmers, he said.
Divulging cabinet decisions, he said Petroleum Division briefed the cabinet about vacant posts of managing director and chief executive officers in the division and attached departments and apprised the cabinet that the appointment process on four vacant posts is continuing.
The minister said the cabinet okayed enhancing visa duration of Tablighi Jamat from 120 to 150 days, besides providing them E-Visa facility.
Fawad said that Rana Shamim had stated in Islamabad High Court that the circulated affidavit was not issued by him. The question is how affidavit was published in newspapers, he said, adding it is assumed that Nawaz Sharif is involved in the publication of Shamim’s affidavit. He said some media persons are involved in the campaign launched against judiciary and army and hoped that the court would take the issue to the logical conclusion.
