Pakistan PM directs arrest of miscreants involved in Street Crimes
'Pakistan Times' Sindh Bureau

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday directed law-enforcing agencies to work for the elimination of crimes and formulate such a strategy that could pre-empt the crimes.

He presided over a meeting in governor house here where law and order situation was mulled over.

He directed respective institutions to arrest the miscreants involved in street crimes by the end of October.

Shaukat Aziz said that law-enforcing agencies should strengthen their intelligence network, adding that more attention should be given to pinpointing those who commit and plan crimes.

Prime Minister said that the federal and provincial governments would provide all facilities to law enforcing agencies so that they may perform their duties more effectively.

During the meeting, IG Sindh Asad Jehangir Mirza briefed the premier about law and order in the city and the measures taken up by different agencies for the security of the citizens.

Petroleum Prices

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Saturday said that petroleum prices in the country will be reduced after reaching old subsidy level.

He was talking to newsmen after paying a visit to a utility store in Gizri area. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani and high officials were also present on the occasion.

He said that the government had freezed the price of petrol in the country at the level of Rs 50 per litre when the international oil prices touched $ 70 per barrel and paying a huge subsidy in billions of rupees since then.

Now, the world prices are gradually falling, the amount of subsidy is also declining. "When it will reach the subsidy level where the government freezed the prices, the petrol prices in Pakistan will come down", he added.

To a question, the Prime Minister pointed out that overall petroleum development levy is zero in the current budget. We are not receiving any levy from petroleum products. Instead we are paying a subsidy which means a revenue loss, he noted.

Five new Markets

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Saturday that five new vegetable markets would be set up in Karachi, which would serve to improve the vegetable supply in the metropolis.

He said this while visiting a utility store in Gizri area of Karachi.

Shaukat Aziz said that under the positive policies, the government hoarded the wheat, sugar and pulses so that they could be supplied to the market on time.

The Prime Minister said prices of commodities are in complete accordance with demand and supply and price magistrates are playing their role in enforcing price control.

The premier said that it was the first time in Ramazan that the prices of flour, pulses, sugar and ghee are not only under control but also a downward trend was observed in prices.

In the whole South Asian region, nowhere the flour price is as cheaper as in Pakistan the Prime Minister said.

Responding a query regarding increasing oil prices in Pakistan, he said that when the price in international market increased, the government froze the oil prices in the country and gave subsidy to the people.

Transportation Projects

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that Lyari Expressway, Karachi Circular Railway and Mass Transit scheme are critical in solving transportation problems of Karachi and government is making all out efforts for early completion of these projects.

He was presiding over a high level meeting held at Governor House here on Saturday to review the progress of various transportation projects.

The Prime Minster directed that all bottlenecks, encroachments and impediments in completion of these projects be removed to cope with growing congestion and traffic problems on the streets of Karachi.

He expressed concern over growing traffic problems in Karachi and directed the concerned authorities to take solid measures to arrest the situation.

Prime Minster Shaukat Aziz hoped that transportation projects will change the face of the city and greatly facilitate the people.

"We are looking ahead to make life of the people comfortable and trouble free", he remarked.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan, Federal Minister for Communication Muhammad Shamim Siddiqi, Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Ghouri, Minister for Provincial Coordination Salim Saifullah Khan, Chairman Planning Commission Dr. Akram Sheikh, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, Provincial Minister for Planning and Development Shoaib Ahmad Bukhari, Minister for Transport, Adil Siddiqui, Advisor to CM on Information Salahuddin Haider and other senior officials.●