Gas shortage this winter, Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik on Monday held former planning minister Asad Umar responsible for last year’s gas crisis in the country, saying the latter had recommended not importing the commodity, and emphasised that there would be no gas shortage this winter.
Malik made the remarks while addressing the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum, which met under the chairmanship of Abdul Qadir in the Parliament House. It was further noted that the state-owned petroleum companies would sell LPG at the union council level at official rates. As the proceedings started, the panel witnessed an exchange of harsh words between Malik and PTI Senator Saifullah Abro. During the session, Abro questioned Pakistan LNG’s Masood Nabi that why the incumbent government did not purchase LNG when it was available at a low cost during the tenure of the PTI. gas shortage this winter, Malik intervened and told Abro to raise the question with him. The PTI senator said that he wanted to have the details from the relevant official.
When Malik said that he was responding to his question, Abro asked why Energy Minister Khurram Dastagir was not attending the committee’s meeting despite the fact that he held a bigger portfolio than the state minister. Abro said that a state minister was not allowed to join the standing committee’s meeting to which Malik expressed his annoyance, asking “Why was I called if I am not allowed to attend the meeting?” gas shortage this winter, Malik said he should not be “insulted” and would leave the meeting. The committee chairman intervened asking how the meeting would be held if both the officials spoke in such a manner. He asked Malik to respond to the query, saying he was the relevant person to comment on the issue.
Source: This news is originally published by tribune