ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has expressed the confidence that as a result of increased supplies, the shortage of petrol would be over this week.
In his address at a news conference in Islamabad on Monday evening, he said that petrol supply has been increased by 50 to 100 percent in different cities.
The petroleum minister also indicated that there would be a reduction in prices of oil by over Rs5 a litre from February 1.
To a question, he said that a committee is investigating the causes of shortage of petrol and it would submit its report to the prime minister tomorrow.
Earlier in the day, in a meeting to review petroleum situation in the country in Islamabad, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his extreme displeasure over the difficulties being faced by the people due to non-availability of fuel.
During the meeting, the prime minister was informed that measures are being taken to provide immediate relief to the people as 15,600 tons of petrol was supplied on Monday all over the country against an average daily consumption of 12,000 tons.
The prime minister was informed that additional supply of petrol would be ensured in the coming month.
Talking about power situation, the prime minister directed the Ministry of Water and Power to immediately work to reduce line losses and recover outstanding amount of over Rs500 billion in order to clear the amounts due to the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and other liabilities.
The Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Secretary Water and Power Acting Secretary Petroleum and other senior officials were present during the meeting.
