A meeting on the proposal to blend ethanol with locally produced petrol by refineries was held in Islamabad today with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar in the chair.

The Chairman, OGRA, made a presentation on the proposal. After detailed deliberations, the committee recommended that, as ethanol prices are currently higher than petrol prices, a policy of voluntary blending should be allowed, subject to financial viability for refineries and ethanol manufacturers.

OGRA was advised to undertake a quarterly review based on the financial working of ethanol exports versus its blending with locally produced petrol and to submit a report through the Petroleum Division for review by the Prime Minister Office. 

Ishaq Dar also chaired the first meeting of the Committee on Economic Management Reforms today.

The meeting deliberated on the way forward for implementation of the government’s holistic economic plans across various sectors, including energy, the social sector, and governance. The role of the Planning Commission and other ministries was discussed in detail.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed the importance of focusing on sectors that can act as triggers for higher and more inclusive economic growth. Akram