PRIME Minister Nawaz Sharif vowed that Pakistan will become an Asian tiger and in some ways he has fulfilled this promise. Tigers don’t need petrol or gas to fill their bellies, nor do they need education, economic self-reliance or electricity.

All they need is meat to fill their bellies, and this country with a population reaching almost 200 million, has plenty to offer.

From an MBBS serving as adviser on petroleum to an Abbottabad Public School alumni advising the prime minister on petroleum, there is no place in this country for men who waste their time acquiring degrees from Ivy League universities or similar institutions elsewhere.

Specialisation is a waste of time so is relevant experience. They don’t teach you skills to make money.

If you have any doubts just review the choices of successive governments to head various regulatory bodies and their marvellous track record in fiscal discipline, energy, water and power, security, civil bureaucracy, aviation, public transport, tax collection, law and order, etc.

It takes extraordinary skills to create petroleum shortage at a time when supply is in abundance and prices are low. While private petroleum companies all over the world were under strict regulatory control, not to delay placing orders for procuring oil, they were free in Pakistan to do as they please.

A.M. Tariq

Lahore

(2)

THIS refers to your editorial ‘Fuelling controversy” (Jan 20). The sudden petrol shortage in Punjab and then in Karachi is likely to cause a severe dent in the popularity of the PML-N government.

The public was already suffering from loadshedding and gas shortage. The crisis indicates the extent of incompetence of Nawaz Sharif’s management team.

Unfortunately, the axe has fallen on four officials, including the PSO managing director even before the investigation was initiated.

The responsibility squarely lies with the ministers for petroleum, for finance and the state minister for power.

More interesting is the fact that contradictory statements are being issued by cabinet members as to the cause of the crisis.

Even more intriguing is that the investigation is being done by the officials who are subservient to the ministers. How can the truth come out of this investigation?

A.M.

Karachi

Published in Dawn February 7th , 2015

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