Web Desk(National Times)- Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday advocated for the revision of market timings to cut down on oil usage by saving electricity, as the country faces rising import costs amid the global oil crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Iqbal stressed the need to reduce energy spending to combat the economic difficulties arising from the ongoing war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pointing out that Pakistan generated electricity using imported fuel, the planning minister emphasised the need to \u201cbring efficiency in the consumption of petrol and diesel\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iqbal observed that markets in Pakistan usually opened after 12pm and remained open till 2am, using \u201celectricity generated from imported fuel\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf we use electricity at night now, this will be generated from furnace oil, which costs the public Rs60-80 per unit,\u201d he explained, asking whether such \u201cirresponsible conduct\u201d suited a nation facing an enormous crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCrises are moments of behavioural change,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The planning minister noted that provinces have been asked to consult with traders and \u201cseek a plan of action within a week so we can ensure the early closure of markets\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saying that such a move would save the government and the nation from the \u201cunnecessary burden\u201d of billions of rupees, Iqbal requested traders to decide \u201cwith empathy\u201d on the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He contended that people would eventually adjust to any changes in market timings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The remarks come a day after Power Minister Awais Leghari said that Centre was consulting with provinces<\/a> on changes to market timings and other conservation measures to reduce the potential rise in power tariffs driven by the high cost of gas and furnace oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In his remarks, Iqbal claimed that markets in \u201cdeveloped countries or successful economies\u201d such as Japan, the United States, Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkiye did not remain open after 6pm or at most 8pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you go into neighbourhoods after 9pm or 10pm, there is complete calm. People have gone to sleep. Early to bed, early to rise,\u201d he said, stressing that this was also the routine advised by Islamic teachings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The minister further said the government had taken notice of unnecessary hikes introduced by transporters in fares, adding that provinces had been directed to discuss the prices with transporters to prevent profiteering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou can play your part in the country\u2019s development and stability by preventing the unnecessary usage of a single drop of petrol or diesel,\u201d he said, suggesting that the public adopt several fuel-saving measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you commute to the office alone, then try to carpool with colleagues from your residence or area to your office,\u201d Iqbal said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He further urged people not to use electricity when not needed so that the \u201ccountry\u2019s import bill can be reduced as much as possible\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Noting that the ongoing conflict was impacting people in the Global South, Iqbal called for facing these challenges as a united nation without politicising them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He urged the media not to report with \u201csensationalism\u201d, recalling that publications were highlighting politicians\u2019 old remarks against increases in fuel prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou cannot compare apples and oranges,\u201d he stated, contending that the past criticism was over price hikes caused by the government\u2019s policies, whereas the current surges were not a result of the government\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Separately, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar highlighted the government\u2019s efforts to minimise the war\u2019s toll on the economy and defended its decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis situation is not one of our doing. All countries are facing the same situation,\u201d he said while addressing the media in Lahore alongside Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tarar recalled that when the conflict escalated, it required a \u201cnational response\u201d, for which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called a meeting of the national leadership, including all four chief ministers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information minister noted that PM Shehbaz had alerted all ministries and said that he would not tolerate the people of the country suffering due to a fuel shortage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said that the whole region faced a fuel shortage, pointing to neighbouring India. He recalled that the government had made arrangements so that such a situation could be avoided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBecause the premier took a proactive approach \u2026 there was no shortage anywhere,\u201d Tarar asserted. He said that the issue for Pakistan was that the war had affected supply lines and prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The minister said PM Shehbaz stayed up countless nights and that his team worked to bear a Rs129bn burden for weeks, highlighting that the government took a host of austerity measures<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tarar asserted that the fuel subsidies announced would aid the common man. He added that the premier still did not \u201cadmit defeat\u201d. As a result, Tarar said, PM Shehbaz partially reduced<\/a> petrol prices after initially announcing an increase<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBelieve that whatever is humanly possible \u2026 the federal and provincial governments are doing for you,\u201d he said. He added that efforts were also underway at a diplomatic level to secure peace in the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, Malik said that it was also necessary to conserve fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou send your car somewhere three times a day. Please, stop. Turn off the lights when you leave the room. It is now your national duty,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Web Desk(National Times)- Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday advocated for the revision of market timings to cut down on oil usage by saving electricity, as the country faces rising import costs amid the global oil crisis. Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Iqbal stressed the need to reduce energy spending to combat the economic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":123670,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-123669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/a>\u2018All countries facing the same situation\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n