Govt to revise POL prices, says Jadoon
President’s address to joint session not mandatory: Afgan
By Zulfiqar Ahmad

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Amanullah Khan Jadoon Monday assured National Assembly an early revision in the oil prices. “The Committee on oil prices meets every fortnight and it is under consideration to revise the oil prices at the earliest,” he said in response to a calling attention notice. MNAs Farid Ahmed Piracha, Dr. Ata-ur-Rehman, Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, Muhammad Hussain Mehanti and Aisha Munawar had drawn the attention of the minister towards increase in petrol prices despite decrease in petroleum prices in the international market. The Minister said although the government has no control on the petroleum prices but it provided petroleum products to masses on subsidized rates when the prices in international market were high.
“Now also, the government will ensure that as soon as the prices in international market come down, oil prices in the country are also revised downward,” he told the House. To a question, the minister said, the government is endeavoring to dig out more and more wells to enhance production of petrol and gas within the country. Later, to a point of order, the minister assured MNA Shah Abdul Aziz to provide gas to Karak district at the earliest possible. He said the plan for provision of gas to Southern districts was almost in final stages and the delay in inauguration of this project was caused due to earthquake.
He said finances have also been approved and these projects will be started at the earliest possible. MNAs Rai Mansab Ali Khan and Riaz Hussain Pirzada also raised the point of oil prices separately and demanded of the government to transfer the powers of OCAC to Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) as early as possible as the bill in this regard was already passed.
Online adds: The first session of fourth parliamentary year once again saw a heated debate on President’s address to the joint sitting of the parliament where opposition dubbed president’s non addressing the joint sitting of the parliament at the beginning of new parliamentary year illegal and unconstitutional with minister for parliamentary affairs Dr Sher Afgan pleading that president will not address the joint session unless the law makers become civilized. Replying to a point of order raised by the opposition in on the first day of the new session on Monday, Dr Sher Afgan said that opposition was misinterpreting the constitution with reference to presidential address to joint sitting of parliament. Addressing the joint session of parliament is discretionary for the president under article 1768 of the constitution, he held. Is it in line with the constitution what culture has been promoted since 1990 on the occasion of presidential address to the joint sitting, he questioned. Does opposition want such presidential address, he asked..