ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday announced that the cabinet had nominated two federal ministers, Asad Umar and Zubaida Jalal, who will visit the port city on behalf of Prime Minister Imran Khan and try to resolve the matter.
“They will talk to the protesters as the prime minister has already taken notice and ordered resolution of the issue,” the federal minister said while addressing a post-Cabinet press conference in Islamabad.
The ‘Gwadar Ko Haq Do Tehreek’ entered its 30th day on December 14. The movement, launched by Jamaat-i-Islami’s Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman, has been dedicated to the deprived and oppressed people of Balochistan comprising fishermen, poor labourers, and students.
Last week, tens of thousands of people marched on the streets of the city chanting anti-government slogans after which PM Imran Khan took notice of the protests. In a statement, the premier promised to take strong action against illegal fishing by trawlers and speak to CM Balochistan.
Addressing a presser today, Chaudhry said that the ministers would prepare a comprehensive report of the issue and present it to the prime minister.
Fawad said Rs700 billion package for south Balochistan had been announced but if still the problems of the people of Gwadar were not resolved, there was need to rethink the whole strategy. He added more spending were being made on the Gwadar clean drinking water than Islamabad.
“If even then, the people of Gwadar are struggling, then there’s need to overview and find out where the fault actually lies,” the minister pointed out.
‘Gas Crisis’
The Information Minister also warned of an impending gas crisis in the country, saying the resource was depleting fast and “Pakistan will have no gas in years to come.” He raised alarm over gas going scarce in the country and said it was depleting by 9 per cent every year for the last two years.
“Gas is available in big cities to 23pc people at subsidised rates and its burden is being borne by 78pc people in other parts of the country who rely on LPG, coal and other means,” the minister said.
Chaudhry stressed that people getting gas at cheaper rates in big cities should now change their habits. “This trend will not continue for long anymore”, he warned.
He said the government would have to restructure its gas system to ensure to equal supply to everyone. The minister said an uninterrupted supply of gas to industries also resulted in sizable urea production.
He also informed that a Sugar Sector Reform Committee report was being released today containing several proposals, including its deregulation, to minimise the government’s role in price-fixing. “The report will now be available for public debate before any final decision is taken,” he added.
Change in currency notes
The minister also told the presser that the State Bank of Pakistan had sought a six-year extension for the replacement of currency notes of Rs10, 50, 100 and 1000, however, the cabinet had granted only a 12-month extension.
“Those who want to get currency notes changed should get it done in a year,” he added.
