Pakistan Petroleum Minister Asim Hussain. - AFP (File Photo)

ISLAMABAD: Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain came under fire in the Senate for disclosing an imminent increase in prices of petroleum products, with lawmakers expressing fear that hoarders would take undue advantage of the information.

Parliamentary leader of PML-N in the house Ishaq Dar raised the issue on a point of order and said the minister must explain his position on the matter.

Mr Dar pointed out that it was the job of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to announce the prices of petroleum products on the last day of every month, but it was surprising to see the petroleum minister disclosing this five days before the announcement.

Law Minister Moula Bakhsh Chandio also reminded Dr Hussain that it was for Ogra to make the announcement about any adjustment in the prices of petroleum products.

“I apologise to the petroleum minister that I cannot support his statement,” he told reporters after the Senate proceedings.

Earlier, Dr Hussain informed the house that a policy was being prepared in consultation with all stakeholders to ensure that only CNG kits of good quality were sold in the local markets.

He conceded that incidents of explosion in the public vehicles were on the rise because of use of substandard kits.

Opposing an adjournment motion moved by Prof Khurshid Ahmed, he said the government was cognizant of the use of substandard CNG cylinders and kits in public vehicles. He said Ogra was responsible for checking such incidents and that the authority would be geared up to curb the explosions for the protection of human lives.

Prof Khurshid said dozens of people had lost their lives in the past three months because of cylinder explosions. He regretted that profiteers were making money at the cost of human lives and asked the government to take immediate notice of the sale and use of substandard CNG cylinders.

He said the departments concerned should be mobilised to curb production and sale of substandard cylinders. He said the matter was of urgent public importance and should be discussed in detail to enable the house to evolve a comprehensive strategy.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT: Adviser to Prime Minister on Human Rights Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar informed the house that all public and private organisations were bound to form a three-member committee to address complaints relating to sexual harassment at workplaces.

“The parliament has already passed an act in this regard and the ombudsman office is also dealing with such cases,” he said while opposing an adjournment motion moved by Prof Khurshid.

Mr Khokhar said action would be taken if cases of sexual harassment were brought to his notice.

Prof Khurshid said the cases of sexual harassment were increasing by the day, causing embarrassment to women employees.

He said women working in factories and public and private offices were not being treated properly. “Islam teaches us to respect women and give them a proper place in society.”

He pointed out that a number of complaints by women workers were pending with the ombudsman’s office, adding that the anti-sexual harassment law should also be enforced in NGOs operating in the country.

Leader of the House in the Senate Nayyar Bokhari said the parliament had already passed a law against sexual harassment at workplaces and under the rules of business and procedure, a matter which could be addressed through legislation should not be taken on adjournment motion.

Senate Chairman Farooq H. Naek ruled that a committee be set up to look into all those laws which needed to be amended after the passage of the 18th Amendment. The committee should comprise senior and competent lawyers, he added.

BILL DEFERRED: The Private Power and Infrastructure Board Bill 2011 was deferred till Tuesday after it was opposed by opposition members who said the bill should not be cleared in haste.

The bill moved by Water and Power Minister Syed Naveed Qamar is aimed at attracting and facilitating private investment in power generation and allied infrastructure projects in the country.

Prof Khurshid said the bill needed to be improved, adding that the objectives of the 18th Amendment had not been taken into consideration before moving the bill.

His point of view was endorsed by Ishaq Dar and Zafar Ali Shah of the PML-N, saying the bill must not be passed in haste. They said they were not opposing the bill, but it would be better if it was deferred for further discussion.