RAWALPINDI: Pakistan is now in a position to export petrol. In fact, the first consignment of 10,000 tons of oil will leave for Singapore “very soon”.

This was disclosed last night (Jan 15) by Mr Amanullah Khan Niazi, Joint Secretary, Natural Resources Division of the Ministry of Industries, in a talk broadcast from Radio Pakistan, Rawalpindi.

This new source of earning foreign exchange has become possible because of the oil refinery at Karachi.

It has “opened new vistas of industrialisation and prosperity. Its by-products are expected to be utilised as a base for petro-chemistry, especially for the manufacture of detergents, polyethylene etc”.

The Government is also considering the manufacture of aromatics from the by-products of the Karachi refinery, he said. The refinery is at present producing motor oil, kerosene, aviation turbine fuels, jet fuels, high speed diesel oil and furnace oil, and is also processing imported crude oil. But it is so designed that it can switch over to indigenous crude oil when available. “It would be a great day indeed when, by the grace of God, we strike oil in the country and process indigenous crude oil in this refinery.”—Agencies

Ghilaf-i-Kaaba is ready

KARACHI: The Speaker of the National Assembly, Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan, said yesterday that the preparation of Ghilaf-i-Kaaba was a great honour for Pakistan.

He was inaugurating the Banares Silk House on Elphinstone Street, Karachi, yesterday. The Ghilaf has been prepared by this House under the supervision of the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Pakistan.

The Ghilaf in black silk with ‘Kalma’ on it was displayed at the inauguration ceremony which was greatly appreciated by the guests. —Staff Correspondent