LAHORE, Aug 12: Federal Industries and Production Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi has emphasized the need for revising and upgrading the existing laws of explosives to meet present day demands.

Talking to news men here on Thursday after inaugurating the Lahore Circle Office of the Explosives Directorates at the Cement Research and Development Institute, he urged the explosives inspectorates to facilitate companies in getting licenses for the setting up of petrol and CNG stations.

Punjab Irrigation Minister Amir Sultan Cheema, Smeda CEO Shahab Khwaja, National Productivity Organization (NPO) chief Saquib Mohyuddin, chief inspector of explosives Ghulam Nabi Mangrio, and other officials were also present.

Mr Jatoi was of the view that the existing laws were framed in 1937 and were unable to meet the present day needs of the stakeholders. He instructed the authorities to curtail time for granting the license to set up petrol and CNG stations to two days from the existing two weeks.

"We must encourage CNG companies as the demand for gas as motor fuel is on the rise in the country," he added. He said the National Productivity Organization (NPO) had been entrusted with the task of restructuring the Explosives Inspectorate, especially with reference to computerization of the circle offices.

He was grateful to the SHV Energy Pakistan Limited for contributing $3,000 for computerization of the circle office at Lahore. He was hopeful that the company would also assist in the automation of offices at other places like Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and Multan.

Earlier, inspector of explosives (Lahore circle) Haroon Rehman briefed the minister about the working of the office. He said the circle was issuing about 1,000 licences to petrol companies and CNG firms in Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala divisions. The minister was earlier shown around different sections of the office.