ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: In a bid to improve the energy supply situation, Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro on Tuesday appealed to the nation to reduce use of vehicles and save energy.

While admitting the government’s inability to overcome the current energy crisis, the caretaker prime minister urged the nation to focus on conservation of energy — electricity and gas — in order to help check price hike, reduce energy import bill and improve the environment.

“He emphasised on avoiding the use of personal vehicle unnecessarily, use of energy saver bulbs and essential use of gas,” said an official statement after a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet and a series of other meetings with business leaders and other stakeholders on the energy situation.

Informed sources said the ECC had also decided not to brief the media for at least one month.

The meeting was given a presentation on oil price situation and three different options of increasing the prices of diesel and petrol. These included a five per cent, 10 per cent and 15 per cent hike options.

WHEAT FLOUR CRISIS: The caretaker prime minister, who had earlier presided over an inter-provincial meeting on wheat and flour prices, confirmed fears that the crisis would persist for another month.