ISLAMABAD May 23: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday defended the federal ministers linked with the sugar crisis, attributing the hike in sugar prices to a surge in international market, and said the budget speech would address the reasons behind the scam.

An inquiry was being carried out, he said.

He was talking to newsmen at the Prime Minister’s House after a ceremony held to distribute compensation cheques among heirs of Hangu blast victims.

When asked if any action had been initiated against officials and ministers responsible for the sugar crisis as had been demanded by members of the PML’s central executive committee, the prime minister said: “Rest assured, we have made arrangements for sufficient supply of sugar through enough imports to avoid any recurrence of shortage.”

Led by former prime minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali, several PML leaders had asked the premier during the party’s CEC meeting held on Monday to sack officials and ministers responsible for the sugar crisis.

Mr Aziz claimed that the sugar crisis had been successfully tackled while an artificial cement shortage had been controlled, saying cement price hike had been overcome through measures initiated by the government and cement was now available at reasonable prices in the domestic market.

Commenting on the shape of the new budget, the prime minister reiterated the government’s resolve to present a people-friendly budget, providing maximum incentives to lower-middle and salaried classes.

He said that prices of various kitchen items would be broght down to benefit the poor.

Referring to the tussle between coalition partners in Sindh, the prime minister said he was confident that it would be resolved amicably as both sides had initiated efforts for damage control, adding that the issue had been taken up at the highest level by both sides.

Referring to the souring of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the prime minister advised the neighbouring country’s leadership to avoid creating unnecessary controversies.

He said Pakistan had always reiterated that its stability was linked to stability in Afghanistan.