Petrol mafia turn into a threat to LNG project: PEW
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The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Thursday said influential petrol mafia exploiting masses since decades to profit has speed up efforts to fail LNG project.
The mafia which has forced country to buy sub-standard fossil fuel on inflated rates since long is headed by son of an influential minister who is controlling it from Dubai, it said.
The mafia includes some bureaucrats working in oil and gas sector and a number of influential businessmen who cannot afford any reduction in Pakistan’s oil import bill, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.
He said that Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, a person of high integrity, has publically acknowledged presence of this mafia, their efforts to destabilise LNG project and offer of bribes him to damage the LNG project but he is not ready to name them which speak volumes about their influence.
No one in the corridors of power is ready to take any action against this gang which is plundering national resources by making a cartel and now emerging as biggest threat to national development, he added.
Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that some daring officials of different state-run institutions tried to control the mafia and streamline quality fuel imports to save billions of dollars but failed and were shown the door.
He demanded immediate action against the mafia otherwise LNG project including Karachi-Lahore pipeline project may not see light of the day which will result in perpetual energy crisis.
