Minister says electricity, generated from furnace oil, costs public Rs 60-80 per unit
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal chairs a consultative meeting in Islamabad on the production of two historical historical web series on Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal. SCREEN CAPTURE
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD:
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday called for reviewing market timings to reduce electricity consumption and curb oil use, as the country grapples with higher import costs driven by the global oil crisis.
At a press conference in Lahore, the Planning Minister emphasized the importance of cutting energy expenditure to address the economic strain caused by the ongoing conflict.
Noting that Pakistan depends on imported fuel for power generation, Iqbal underlined the need to improve efficiency in consumption of petrol and diesel.
He noted that markets in Pakistan typically opened after 12:00 noon and remained open until 2:00 a.m., using “electricity generated from imported fuel.”
“If we now use electricity at night, it will be generated from furnace oil, which costs the public between Rs 60 and Rs 80 per unit,” he said, asking whether such “irresponsible behavior” was in the best interest of a nation facing a huge crisis.
“Crises are moments of behavioral change,” he said.
Iqbal said provinces have been asked to consult with traders and “find an action plan within a week so that we can ensure early closure of markets.”
He said the move would save both the government and the public the “unnecessary burden” of billions of rupees, and urged traders to take a considerate stand on the matter.
The Minister of Planning maintained that the markets of “developed countries or successful economies” such as Japan, the United States, Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkiye did not remain open after 6:00 p.m. or at most 8:00 p.m.
“If you enter the neighborhoods after 9:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m., it is completely calm. People have gone to sleep. Go to bed early, get up early,” he said, stressing that this was also the routine advised by Islamic teachings.
The minister said the government had taken note of the unnecessary increases introduced by transporters in rates, noting that provinces had been ordered to discuss prices with transporters to avoid speculation.
“You can play your role in the development and stability of the country by avoiding the unnecessary use of a single drop of gasoline or diesel,” he said, suggesting that people adopt various fuel-saving measures.
“If you are traveling alone to the office, try carpooling with colleagues from your residence or area to your office,” Iqbal said.
He advised people not to use electricity when they do not need it so that “the country’s import bill can be reduced as much as possible.”
NPMC
Iqbal on Saturday chaired an online meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC), in which he directed provincial governments to take immediate steps to curb inflationary pressures following a recent rise in fuel prices.
The meeting reviewed the impact of rising oil prices on transportation rates and commodities.
Officials told the committee that diesel prices had increased significantly, while transport fares in major urban centers had increased by 25 to 30 percent on average, with some routes reporting increases of up to 50 percent.
Expressing concern, the minister directed the provincial authorities to ensure that transport departments issue revised fare notifications within 24 hours and strictly enforce them.
He stressed that the benefit of government subsidies should not be nullified by arbitrary increases imposed by carriers.
Iqbal directed the chief secretaries to assign clear responsibility to the provincial transport secretaries for fare regulation and compliance.
He also called for greater law enforcement on the ground, including random inspections and verification mechanisms to check overcharges.
Highlighting the likelihood of a “second round effect” on food prices due to rising logistics costs, the minister ordered weekly monitoring of essential products.
The NPMC would now meet weekly, particularly over the next month, to closely monitor price movements.
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics was tasked with sharing district-level price rankings on a weekly basis to identify abnormal trends, thereby enabling timely corrective action by provincial administrations.
The minister further directed market committees and district administrations to regulate wholesale and retail prices and monitor profit margins to prevent hoarding and speculation.
Special emphasis was placed on ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential and perishable commodities, including tomatoes, onions, potatoes, wheat, rice and pulses.
Referring to government subsidies, the minister stressed that the desired impact must be reflected in market prices.
“If subsidies are transferred entirely to price increases, their purpose becomes useless,” he observed.
The meeting also raised concerns about the price difference of urea fertilizers between domestic and international markets, warning of possible smuggling risks.
Iqbal directed the Ministry of Interior and provincial authorities to take immediate steps to prevent smuggling and ensure adequate availability to farmers.
With APP input
