Indian gas transmission firm, GAIL and Indian Oil Corp (IOC), had shown keen interest to bid for SSGC stakes, being offered to the private sector through strategic sale. A few days back, the Indian officials have been quoted as saying that these two Indian companies could bid for SSGC stakes.
This impression strengthened when Petroleum Minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon during his visit to India last week told newsmen in New Delhi that Indian companies can invest in Pakistan and they can also bid for SSGC stakes.
Sources said the issue came under discussion during the CCoP meeting held here on February 18.
They said Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Akram Shaikh drew the attention of the CCoP towards Jadoon's statement and proposed to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who was chairing the meeting, to explain Pakistan's position on the issue.
The sources said the prime minister took Jadoon's statement with a surprise and said that the minister was ignorant of the government's policy regarding Indian companies' investment in Pakistan.
The petroleum minister had visited India to discuss modalities with his Indian counterpart for Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline.
Pakistan had faced similar situation a few years back when the then petroleum secretary and now Central Board of Revenue (CBR) Chairman M. Abdullah Yousuf had said during his visit to New Delhi that Pakistan can buy diesel from Reliance Group of India. His action was not in line with the government policy as India has never been an ideal destination for Pakistan to import diesel and subsequently, the Government of Pakistan rejected the idea.
Top level officials and federal minister's statements in India against the declared government's policy are enough to give an impression that Islamabad was operating under a loose system and anybody can give any kind of statement without knowing the facts.
An official, who attended the CCoP meeting, told Business Recorder that the participants had suggested to the prime minister that he should seek explanation from Jadoon for issuing such damaging statement against Pakistan's policy.