Caretaker Energy Minister Muhammad Ali has said that detailed deliberations are underway currently to control the price of electricity, and hoped that a decision will be finalized on the issue of relief in electricity bills by Monday.
Addressing a press conference flanked by caretaker ministers Shamshad Akhtar and Gohar Ijaz, he said that we are losing Rs 300 billion annually in the gas sector, and we have to take steps to find oil and gas as the availability of gas is essential for running.
The caretaker minister further said that matters regarding selling or privatising the DISCOs were discussed, adding that efforts are also underway to reduce line losses, and bringing investment under SIFC.
Speaking on the occasion, Gohar Ejaz, the interim minister of commerce, said that the closure of industries had made things more expensive, and that problems in the supply chain had caused inflation to rise as well.
The minister while emphasizing the need for export promotion and industry privatization in order to improve the economy said that the industry must function properly for the wheel of the nation to turn, and if it does, then the economy will flourish.
Mr Ejaz went on to say that in 2022, Pakistan’s record imports were $78 billion while exports were $32 billion, adding that the increase in exports will reduce inflation. “Smuggling is causing damage to the country and it has to be controlled for which measures are being taken,” he added.
On the other hand, Caretaker Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar said that he government is making every bit of the effort to revive economy and are also reviewing various issues for the development of the economy. “Reforms are indispensable for economic recovery,” she said and added making common man economically independent is govt’s top priority.
