Daily Times

Sir: According to a news report, the government has decided to ban the import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) by private companies and only Pakistan State Oil will import LNG. This decision negates the government’s policy of privatisation and a free market. Why does the government want to maintain its monopoly on LNG? The Competition Commission of Pakistan and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority should intervene to protect the consumers’ basic rights. It seems that the government has political and financial interests in LNG deals. It is due to the government’s wrong policies that corruption is rampant and a majority of Pakistanis are poor and deprived of basic necessities of life. Good governance demands that the government should act as a neutral regulator and protect the rights of the masses in any commercial business. It is not the government’s job to manage business. It should allow the private sector to play its role by providing a competitive environment so that citizens could be benefitted from the import of LNG in its true sense.

ENGINEER S T HUSSAIN
Islamabad