The petrol crisis once again echoed in the federal cabinet meeting held Tuesday in which cabinet members have asked why the oil crisis did not end despite the passage of 20 days, 24NewsHD TV Channel reported quoting its sources. 

The federal cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday.

The TV channel reported that the Petroleum Division presented new reasons for the oil crisis in the country that oil smuggling from Iran was a major cause of the petrol crisis in the country.

Cabinet members have demanded an explanation on the failure of the Petroleum Division and demanded action against the concerned officers.

Petroleum Division briefed the federal cabinet that smuggled petrol is being utilized in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

“There are 400 illegal petrol pumps and storage house in KP,” petroleum division told the federal cabinet members.

24NewsHd TV Channel reported that the cabinet approved the leasing of Chamba House Lahore and Qasr-e-Naz Karachi. The cabinet approved the preparation of Satellite Service Policy and after this approval, domestic and foreign companies would be bound to use Pakistan Satellite services. The federal cabinet decision will save billions of rupees annually.

The Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman also briefed the cabinet members on the performance of ETPB. 

The federal cabinet also approved extension of Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952 for employees of Pakistan Meteorological Department.

Heated exchanges

The federal ministers virtually reached in a verbal face-off situation during the federal cabinet meeting held on Tuesday.

The 24NewsHd TV Channel quoting its sources reported that Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda said: “Incompetent ministers have started to consider themselves as prime minister.”

Faisal Vawda got angry while speaking in favour of the prime minister in the meeting.

Prime Minister Imran Khan intervened and took Faisal Vawda to another room during the cabinet meeting. Imran Khan said: “Relax Vawda, I can understand your feelings,” sources say.

Vawada also openly criticised Asad Umar, Razaq Daud and Nadim Babar for their policies and said nobody would be allowed to destroy the PTI’s ideology.

Asad Umar also the issue of Fawad Chaudhary’s interview with the Voice of America in which the Science and Technology minister had levelled allegations of an internal rift among the PTI ranks and war between Jehangir Tareen, Asad Umar and Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Prime Minister has refrained all the cabinet members from giving controversial statements to the media.

Meanwhile, the PM has given six months to all ministers to show performance or face the music. He has also directed all his Special Assistants and Advisers to submit the detail regarding their dual nationalities in the cabinet division.