PM has directed to ensure gas supply to households: Awan

SIALKOT: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Sunday said the prime minister has directed concerned authorities to ensure gas supply to households.

Addressing a press conference, the special assistant denied reports that there was a massive hike proposed in gas prices. She said there has been severe winters in many parts of the country which has led to an increase in demand for gas.

She said that Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) is merely a regulator which provides recommendations to the government. However, she said government comes up with a realistic strategy to not put additional burden on the people.

“The prime minister is aware of the people’s problems and the government understands that citizens cannot bear to take on more expenses at the moment,” she said.

Dr Firdous Awan said that Narendra Modi-led Indian government has buried its secular face by its discriminatory policies. She said that India is now known as an extremist state around the world.

She said that said India pushed occupied Kashmir into violence and
promoted the ideology of Hindu nationalist RSS which caused violence everywhere in the country.

The special assistant said Indian forces have started unprovoked attacks along the Line of Control, killing innocent civilians, but the armed forces and people of Pakistan are united to respond to the Indian aggression befittingly.

She said that unprovoked firing of Indian forces is an attempt to divert world attention from the widespread protest demonstrations in the country. She added that increased violence against minorities in India validates the spirit of two nation theory and the ideology of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Awan said that entire Pakistani nation stands with the armed forces in defence of motherland. She appreciated Pakistani media for effectively exposing the brutal face of India.

“The people of Pakistan stand behind the army. Our media is showing the true picture of what is currently going on at the border. Our media is unveiling India’s true intentions and will continue to do so,” she said.

Dr Firdous Awan said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto should appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and present the money trail as required by anti-corruption agency.

She added that the opposition continues to denounce democracy during Prime Minister Imran Khan’s tenure as it is not the type of democracy they prefer.

“The prime minister is not in favour of the type of democracy where you worry about the well-being of your own children and not of the nation’s children. Your own conduct is undemocratic. You should being democracy to your own province.”

The special assistant said that the federal cabinet has received application of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz for visiting abroad which will be decided on Tuesday. She said the cabinet will review the application in detail and decide according to the constitution and law.