KARACHI: City council demands 25pc cut in POL prices
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec 20: The City Council on Wednesday expressed concern over reports that the government was considering an increase in fuel prices and enhancing its reserves from 21 days and 45 days.
After a heated debate the house adopted a unanimous resolution by adding two amendments which noted with serious concern the fact that despite a 25 per cent cut in fuel prices in the world market, the government had not made any reduction.
Maintaining that fuel prices had been enhanced manifold for the past few years, the council urged the federal government not to enhance fuel prices. Instead, it suggested that fuel prices be cut by at least 25 per cent.
Two amendments resolutions were also moved: One related to a cut in public transport fares was submitted by treasury leader Asif Siddiqui and Sher Afghan while the second one was presented by Opposition leaders Saeed Ghani,Rafiq Ahmed and others. Senior Presiding officer Masood Mehmood tabled the resolutions for debate which were adopted by the house unanimously.
Earlier, when the house resumed its session, second Presiding Officer Ahsan was in chair in the absence of Ms Nasreen Jalil.
Opposition leader Saeed Ghani drew the attention of the chair toward its resolution regarding Diamond Bar City being built in the coastal area of Karachi, saying 1200 acres of land of the city had been allotted to a foreign firm without the consent of its elected representatives. He insisted the issue was an urgent and sensitive one and should be debated first. He said that he had raised the issue during the previous session but the chair did not table the issue, assuring that it would be taken up at a later stage as the house was busy in normal business.
While he was presenting arguments on urgency of the island issue, another Opposition member Rafiq Ahmed stood up and pointed out to the Presiding Officer that he had also submitted several resolutions on urgent issues and they were also not tabled in the house. He said these resolutions related to post-rain situation, street crimes and fuel prices. Mr Rafiq complained that whenever the Opposition side tried to move any burning issue, it had been either bulldozed or sidetracked by the Treasury.
Upon this, Treasury leader Asif Siddqui attacked the Opposition, saying that there was no justification to discuss the post-rain situation at this stage. He said the city government had taken effective measures to mitigate the sufferings of the people. He said there were some problems in Saddar Town and Old City areas due to the old sewerage system which was being addressed by the city government. He also insisted the crime situation was not an urgent issue. So far as the islands issue was concerned, he said the issue was related to the Sindh and the Federal governments and had been taken up at the highest forum.
Pleading that the house members should not raise issues which are not directly concerned with the city government, the Treasury leader assured the Opposition that they were ready to accommodate their positive suggestions provided these were in the interest of citizens. The Opposition members, however, continued their protest. They stood up and repeatedly urged the chair to table their resolutions in the house, particularly on the island issue. Then there was an uproar in the house. The Presiding Officer repeatedly asked the Opposition members to maintain decorum of the house, saying he was ready to listen to their point of view and put their relevant resolutions to debate provided they allow the house to take its normal agenda at first.
While the Opposition was raising a hue and cry, the Treasury members initiated the debate on agenda and passed resolutions congratulating the health committee members for finalising the monitoring committee report for necessary action and sending it CDGK’s EDO health.
The house also adopted a resolution on constitution of a six-member committee regarding the reduction in recovery period 2006-7 for veterinary services department group of officers (agriculture).
The protest by the Opposition was continuing in the house, when the senior Presiding Officer Masood Mehmood took the chair. To the surprise of all members, he tabled a pending resolution of both the Opposition and the Treasury on fuel prices for debate. The Opposition calmed down.
Treasury leader Asif Siddiqi assured the house members that there were senior members on the other side and they wanted to accommodate their views on the development issues, saying that there could be no two views that price-hike in fuel prices had badly affected every citizen.
He said the house should adopt not only a unanimous resolution on fuel prices but also on public transport fares. His sentiments were reciprocated by opposition and treasury member. The amended resolutions were adopted by the house unanimously.
Members who participated in the debate included Abdul Jalil, Mehboob Rehman, Yasmeen Butt, Shahjehan Baloch, Arif Bhatti, Abdul Rasheed, Ghulam Yasin, Dilawar Shah, Waqar Husain, Sulman, Shabana Shaiba and others.
The house also passed a resolution condoling the death of Shaukat Siddiqui, a renowned novel writer of the country.
Later, the council meeting was adjourned indefinately
