I AM surprised that bad governance, incompetence, misappropriations and criminal negligence by the federal government are to cost the country $30m penalty imposed on the Pakistan Gas Port Consortium Limited (PGPC) by Pakistan LNG Terminal Limited (PLTL). I want to remind the prime minister about the $1bn penalty in the gold mine Reko Diq settlement and $700 in rental power plant as fine imposed by international litigators.

It is surprising that the present prime minister has been heading the ministry and, reportedly, the non-resolution of the dispute between PGPC and PLTL is set to go to the London court of International Arbitration (LCIA).

With rumours already circulating around a possible NAB inquiry into the LNG contract worth Rs220bn, it is justified to ask Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to explain, in general, his position about the above penalties, and, in particular, relating to his ministry of petroleum and natural resources.

Also, according to recent newspaper reports, it is alarming to note that the government appears to be clearing the backlog of key proposals emanating from the erstwhile ministry of petroleum and natural resources, irrespective of their economic, constitutional and centre-provincial implications.

Irregularities and not following the guidelines, codal formalities and disregard to consultation process of stakeholders put a big question mark on hurriedly taken federal cabinet decisions: HSD price deregulation and petrol pricing in future despite the fact that the Planning Commission, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) also opposed the move.

The prime minister has no choice but to salvage his government’s credibility and the PML-N’s reputation, but not at the country’s risk.

Raza Haroon

Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2017