By: ANI Correspondent :
ISLAMABAD — The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat has expressed serious concern over the doubling of LPG prices, alleged disappearance of billions of rupees worth of goods from Customs warehouses, and rising electricity bills, directing the relevant authorities to submit detailed reports.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan, reviewed LPG supplies and security, Customs warehouses and rewards, petroleum products, electricity transmission and tariffs, and the longstanding FESCO-related case.
The committee was informed that Pakistan’s monthly LPG requirement stands at around 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes, while security concerns in Balochistan have led to LPG tankers being transported in convoys with security escorts. Customs officials said the LPG was entering the country through legal channels and that no smuggling was taking place.
Customs officials said an LPG tanker is worth approximately Rs50 million and losses from affected tankers had reached around Rs2 billion. The committee also expressed concern over reports of billions of rupees worth of goods missing from Customs warehouses and sought an investigation report.
The committee directed Customs authorities to submit details of rewards paid to the top 10 Customs officials during the last three years.
OGRA officials informed the committee that petroleum products were being monitored through a digital system and the country currently had stocks sufficient for more than 20 days. Officials also briefed the committee on improvements in electricity transmission capacity and additional power supply from the south to the north.
The committee also reviewed the longstanding FESCO case and questioned the involvement of FIA and NAB in the matter. It decided to summon the NAB Chairman and FIA Director General to the next meeting.
All concerned departments were directed to submit the required records and reports at the next meeting.
