PM Nawaz cancels Davos trip as criticism grows over petrol crisis
ISLAMABAD: As citizens and politicians alike lambasted the government for the prevailing petroleum and energy crisis, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decided to cancel his trip to Switzerland, where he was scheduled to attend the World Economic Forum.
"Instead of leaving for Davos, the prime minister has called a meeting tomorrow to review the supply and demand situation of petroleum in the country for the next two months," a spokesman for the PM House said.
The spokesman said the premier is keeping himself updated regarding the petrol shortage in Punjab and has created a special cell in the Ministry of Petroleum for this purpose.
The high-level meeting taking place at the PM House tomorrow will be attended by Ministers for Finance, Petroleum and Water and Power.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a Geneva-based non-profit organisation best known for its Annual Meeting in Davos. The WEF this year is scheduled to be held on January 21-24.
Nine days into a debilitating fuel shortage that has immobilised parts of Punjab, the PM returned from Jeddah and ordered an inquiry into the crisis and said that officials responsible will be taken to task.
Frustrated citizens in Lahore, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Sialkot and Multan spent Sunday queuing up at the handful of petrol pumps open in the respective cities, with some saying they had been there overnight without any respite.
At many pumps, tempers spilled over as worn out and angry citizens scuffled with petrol stations owner as their hours long wait saw no relief.
The prime minister chaired a meeting on Tuesday during which he reviewed the petroleum situation in the country, and issued directives for structural changes in order to ensure that the current petroleum crisis situation does not arise again.
The two-member committee tasked to inquire into this matter presented their initial findings to PM Nawaz, informing him that the petrol shortage was a serious failure on the part of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) as a regulator.
The meeting endorsed the earlier decision of suspending four senior officials responsible for the crisis and decided that Deputy Managing Director of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) Mr Sohail Butt was also equally responsible and ordered his suspension as well.
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Comments (78) Closed
Jan 21, 2015 09:48pm
A wise step.
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Jan 21, 2015 09:49pm
very kind of you Prime minister.
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Jan 21, 2015 09:54pm
Excellent move by our PM. God bless you.
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Jan 21, 2015 09:54pm
I think Mr. PM has already completed his monthly quota of Foreign trips!
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Jan 21, 2015 09:57pm
Thats a big sacrifice:) What contribution did he have to make at Davos anyway?
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Jan 21, 2015 09:58pm
All the responsibilities were supposed to be performed by the PM. What is the point of having so many ministers and secondly, how different is it from dictatorship ?
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Jan 21, 2015 10:00pm
Go suspend a couple of more Govt. officials. It clearly shows that no one would do anything if some emergency situation arises in the presence of PM. What a competent team !
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Jan 21, 2015 10:00pm
Makes sense. How is he going to fly out if there is no petrol in the country.
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Jan 21, 2015 10:01pm
he takes a way too much notices and still comes up with bad planning. Looking busy doing nothing.
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Jan 21, 2015 10:08pm
If he takes the credit on the good things occurred, then he should must also take responsibility over the bad things happened,
at least he could do, to step down and offer a free and fair probe.
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Jan 21, 2015 10:14pm
Take responsibility
Resign Prime minister now !
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Jan 21, 2015 10:16pm
No politician take the responsibility, it is Pakistan's dilemma !
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Jan 21, 2015 10:21pm
First he needs to seek apology from the nation.
Then he needs to fire at least two ministers.
Next he needs to appoint competent and professional ministers who are no the "Yes Men."
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Jan 21, 2015 10:21pm
The PM does not go to Davos. He need to fix the structural and execution oriented issues in his cabinet. This PM is more interested about foreign travel than solving the core problems in Pakistan.
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Jan 21, 2015 10:22pm
Sorry PM for missing London trip on public expenses by dropping visit to Davos
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Jan 21, 2015 10:23pm
Amazing...now our PM has to cancel his important international obligations to tackle domestic issues...which should not have been there in the first place...
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Jan 21, 2015 10:23pm
He will ask about his commission with Mr. Abbasi.
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Jan 21, 2015 10:25pm
Our PM does not live in Pakistan and is outside the country most of the days. Looks like someone else is running the country. Cancelling this trip to Davos is a rarity. We will hear, very soon, that he is away.
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Jan 21, 2015 10:26pm
I live in USA and the price of gas has gone down more than 45% within last 6 months. From $3.60 a gallon to $1.79 a gallon(Currently).
Why hasn't petrol prices dropped in Pakistan?
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Jan 21, 2015 10:33pm
I am amazed that neither President nor Prime Minister has addressed the nation to guide us on what is happening and how to get through this issue.
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Jan 21, 2015 10:39pm
PM only concerned about situation in Punjab - the country's progress is being held hostage by energy shortages, now what will happen about the great PM achievement "the motorway" no cars anymore to use it may be the horse carts will run!
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Jan 21, 2015 10:39pm
So it takes public pressure to make our Prime Minister do his job..........
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Jan 21, 2015 10:41pm
Meanwhile elsewhere:-
IMF & Worldbank have predicted that India's growth rate will outpace that of China in 2016! That would be the talk of the town this year at Davos!
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Jan 21, 2015 10:42pm
More than thirty years in politics and immature.
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Jan 21, 2015 10:43pm
Fate of the nations change with the kind of leadership it has
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Jan 21, 2015 10:43pm
Your report says that the Prime Minister "is keeping himself updated about the petrol situation in the Punjab." Is he the Prime Minister of the Punjab or of the whole country? Does the man not realize the situation in Karachi is terrible?
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Jan 21, 2015 10:46pm
He commited same mistakes as he did in ninties,he always comes with silly arguments.
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Jan 21, 2015 10:54pm
The nation has yet to see the "competent men" Mr PM. Looks like IK's Dharna is what keeps govt moving. IK is doing good not pursuing Dharna, govt will destroy itself by losing public support due to it's "competence".
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Jan 21, 2015 11:04pm
Hats off to our PM for such great decision.!! It simply means everything goes smooth when he is out of Pakistan.
The question is; do we need him inside the country?
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Jan 21, 2015 11:10pm
no no go enjoy
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Jan 21, 2015 11:19pm
It is about time the PM takes care of the issues inside the country & stop taking these
totally unproductive trips. Also stop visiting Raiwind & Murree on a regular basis. Do some
real work for a change.
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Jan 21, 2015 11:21pm
If people of Pakistan remembered the crisis of Sugar in the country resulted in the downfall of President Ayub Khan's government. Karma repeating if you believe in it.
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Jan 21, 2015 11:29pm
Deputy managing director is a ceremonial post, and he is not responsible for the bad deeds of the managing director. Deputy managing director should have given the charge of managing director during mangaing director's suspension.
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Jan 21, 2015 11:30pm
@Ahmad
That's what you want since 2013. Shame on you!
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Jan 21, 2015 11:30pm
@Ahmed USA
Was not that imprtant.
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Jan 21, 2015 11:42pm
He cant stay at home. Wht will Nawaz acheive by having too many tours. By the way he is better off home then at home because we all know his capability as PM zero.
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Jan 21, 2015 11:59pm
Too little, too late.
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Jan 22, 2015 12:14am
Today, scientists can predict how the weather will be for the next 50 years. How come incompetent and corrupted Nawaz team was unable to assess the oil situation. Shame on you Mr. PM.
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Jan 22, 2015 12:14am
@desi ... LOL ... PMLN needs to start building horseways as we have no petrol to run the motors !!!
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Jan 22, 2015 12:30am
@rathorew Oil is easily availabke in Karachi. The problem is in Punjab and hence the focus.
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Jan 22, 2015 12:30am
A good step. I am proud I voted PMLn
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Jan 22, 2015 12:33am
What does he has to do at an Economic forum?
What about making another committee PM sir? Better make two of them, just to have some more fun, you know!
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Jan 22, 2015 12:36am
Nation is at war and out of fuel. Pakistan, tera allah hi maalik.
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Jan 22, 2015 12:38am
Probably no petrol for the plane. Lol.
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Jan 22, 2015 12:57am
@sonia wondering still some ppl proud plmN voters, I don't know what they need more to have soul searching
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Jan 22, 2015 12:57am
Here is what happened. You buy the oil in wholesale say paid a price of one batch at $80 a barrel. Next, the prices drop to say $50 a barrel which means you are forced to sell oil on a reduced price and thus cuts your profits. Now, if you were to buy the oil at $50 a barrel and it jumps to say $60 a barrel and now you are selling the oil on a huge profit and you will never see oil being vanished. The oil mafia in Pakistan is worst than those terrorists. They are out to bring the entire country down for mere imaginary profits. Now, who are these Gas Station owners. Yes, you guessed it right. Your Parliamentarians, Senators and Ministers and you expect them to resolve this issue?
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Jan 22, 2015 12:57am
Nawaz Sharif please go away. You are not doing any good by staying in. We will handle our self. Please go sir. Thank you.
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Jan 22, 2015 01:07am
@Lucky Star and this the same situation prevailing since 2013,
by the way, who told this experienced team not to deliver and create problems for the Public ???
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Jan 22, 2015 01:17am
One visit after another...what a picnic on public money. Please mercy on this poor nation and start WORK for what you are holding this office.
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Jan 22, 2015 01:19am
Question: Why is it that nowhere else except in PK a lot of "taking notice" and doing "suo moto" but nothing actually gets done? Noticing and noting things is nice but do things actually ever get done?
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Jan 22, 2015 01:22am
That must be a disappointment to the PM. Anyways, he does cancel his overseas visits if there if someone is on a mass killing spree, but he does if people cannot drive their SUVs due to gas shortages. What kind of priority is that?
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Jan 22, 2015 01:27am
@sami
He is PM not because of his calibre but because its the nation's fate to suffer him.
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Jan 22, 2015 01:33am
There is a market for india to pakistan oil pipeline now
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Jan 22, 2015 01:34am
@Imran
He did not cancel the visit willingly - he did so due to the displeasure shown by the powers that be over the issue of petrol crisis.
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Jan 22, 2015 01:35am
Good!. World Economic forum is not an event for a country like Pakistan.
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Jan 22, 2015 02:13am
Mr PM. why have your ministers not resigned till now? The incompetence and shirking of responsibility by you and cabinet has given a new level and meaning to incompetence, worst governance and lack of accountability and responsibility. Sharam karo and fire the ministers or resign yourself if you cannot fire the ministers
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Jan 22, 2015 02:21am
Aww. That's too bad. I was looking forward to his speech; 'how to turn a small problem into a big crisis'.
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Jan 22, 2015 02:27am
He needs to extend his cabinet from his dining table at home and get some ministers in who know what they are doing !
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Jan 22, 2015 03:19am
Unless the culprits are properly identified and dealt suitable punishment, any such empty gestures mean nothing. This should never have happened in the first place.
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Jan 22, 2015 03:20am
@Zack forget about dropping prices. There is no petrol at all. The whole world is awash with cheap petrol these days, meanwhile in the motherland ..............
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Jan 22, 2015 03:29am
Indian has a group of big ministers in Davos inviting international companies and investments. And we again miss an opportunity and present to world a sorry state of Pakistani affairs.
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Jan 22, 2015 03:30am
WOW, gentleman is going to have a meeting to only discuss 2 months of supply and demand, what after that Mr Prime Minister. Does not understand anything about long term planning.
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Jan 22, 2015 03:38am
So much for the committees to update the PM, what about the actual steps being taken to relief the people from this crisis and also what mechanism is being developed to ensure that it does not repeat again. (In business terms it is called Risk Mitigation) Does our PM has any concept of this?
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Jan 22, 2015 03:56am
No need to go to davos
You can do "davo dollar davo" from Pakistan and resign you incompetent pos.
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Jan 22, 2015 04:12am
I wish India would help and build goodwill. 100-200 tankers sent a cross Wagah could provide some relief, and won't really disrupt India's own supplies. But alas...this kind of thinking doesn't exist in south asia...
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Jan 22, 2015 04:13am
Still baffles me how a government can lose sight of such a basic requirement of daily life.
IK doesn't need to do anything, he can sit at home and watch Nawaz implode his own dictatorship by employing his Incompetent buddies and family members.
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Jan 22, 2015 04:53am
PM cancelled this visit because NO commission was there, so why wasting time, instead looking after the big deal of Oil and Gas Shortage, making more and more commission.
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Jan 22, 2015 05:17am
They need to forecast demand, not review.
Reviews are only reviews of who were not doing their jobs properly.
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Jan 22, 2015 05:43am
Quit before you are quitted.
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Jan 22, 2015 06:12am
If you in that desperate situation why not ask your neighbor,India, for help. Don't be ashamed, In south Asia people borrow everything from their neighbors in time of need.
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Jan 22, 2015 06:16am
Never had issues at petroleum pumps when petroleum pump owners made puchases at lower prices and the price went up. Ogra is creating artificial shortages to create demand by capitalizing on general public sufferings.
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Jan 22, 2015 06:46am
Wow, what a set back. One of the reasons he wanted premiership.
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Jan 22, 2015 06:47am
Davos me isko kuch lena dena nahi. If the trip was to china he would hve not cancelled
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Jan 22, 2015 06:56am
Excellent move for a moment I thought MD PSO will be removed.. he is Nawaz own man so we really need someone sane to be around.
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Jan 22, 2015 07:18am
Davos mein konsa teer maar lena tha!
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Jan 22, 2015 07:29am
Mera trip khrab Kara ditta.
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Jan 22, 2015 08:01am
Irony in all this is that there is no oil/petrol in the country but guess where NS is always? Saudi, the mecca of oil production. lol
Thats like there being a pasta shortage but PM is always in Italy. Nothing surprises me with this guy anymore its actually comical
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Jan 22, 2015 08:07am
A wise decision in the background of firstly what PM has to contribute to such a forum while country is in deep trouble from all perspective and secondly PM has the least caliber to speak in front of forum audience. N0 one is going to listen to his success story of 1990 related to Motor WaY!.
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