March, 17 2005	Thursday	06 Safar 1426

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ISLAMABAD, March 16: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a ruling coalition partner, has expressed its concern over recent increases in the prices of petroleum products and termed it harmful to the country’s economy. Talking to reporters at the Parliament House cafeteria on Wednesday, MQM’s legislators Dr Farooq Sattar, Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi and Kunwar Khalid Younus said that they had held a meeting with the Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon and other government officials on the issue and suggested some measures to provide relief to the common man.

Dr Sattar said despite the fact they were part of the ruling coalition, they were very much worried on the recent hikes in oil prices which, he said, would badly hit the country’s economy. He claimed that it was the MQM which twice persuaded transporters in Sindh not to go on strike when oil prices were increased in the past.

He said his party would again try to resolve the issue keeping in view welfare of commuters.

The MQM MNA said his party would make utmost efforts to stop transporters from increasing fares. He said the MQM delegation in its meeting with the federal minister conveyed concerns of transporters as well as of public on the hike.

He said that they proposed to the government to allow smuggling of diesel from “neighbouring countries” for some time to improve prevailing situation and to provide some relief to the people.

He said that they had also expressed party’s concern over the government’s decision to withdraw Rs40-billion subsidy on petroleum products. The government was also told that it should not go for “easy money collection” and take steps to withdraw unnecessary taxes on petroleum products. He said the MQM delegation was also expected to meet Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in a day or two to discuss the issue with him.

He said the government was busy in budget making and it was the time for it to consider relief measures for transporters in the forthcoming budget.