ISLAMABAD: Diesel will been converted into Euro-V this month, this was communicated to a parliamentary committee by the Ministry of Petroleum.

In a detailed briefing about conversion of fuels to in the country, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum (SAPM) Nadeem Babar informed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Climate Change that since Aug 1, 2020 imported petrol was being converted to Euro-V.

“We have also directed our local refineries to upgrade their production to Euro-V but they require some time.

“They will be able to meet these requirements soon,” he added.

According to the senior official, Pakistan is importing 72pc of petrol and approximately 35 to 40pc of diesel. “The remaining fuel we are getting from our local refineries,” he said.

Level of smoke emissions from vehicles in Lahore has improved as compared to last year, he said, adding diesel will be delivered from Karachi to Sheikhupura, through a pipeline being upgraded to a dual pipeline which will take about 60 days to become functional.

“In this way our carriage through trucks from one city to another will be reduced with direct positive results on the environment,” he said.Mr Babar pointed out that within the next five years two and three wheelers will run on electricity in order to minimise carbon emission from vehicles as 45pc of these emissions cause air pollution.

Committee Chairperson MNA Munaza Hassan, directed Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to form teams for random checks of petroleum products across the country at petrol pumps to ensure quality.

“We want to know whether they are providing Euro-V or not,” she said.

Ministry of Climate Change Secretary Naheed Durani apologised on behalf of Additional Secretary Joudat Ayaz’s misconduct in the previous meeting, however, committee members asked for his presence in the next meeting along with a written apology. Unusual deaths of animals in several zoos of the country was also discussed.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2021