SC orders govt to fix price of oxygen cylinders in two days

According to details, the apex court issued the directives on a petition filed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

During proceedings, the Supreme Court also directed the ministry to explain the process through which the price of oxygen cylinders is determined.

Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa argued that as the rates of oxygen cylinders are not fixed, the suppliers are demanding exorbitant prices.

Similarly, Additional Attorney General told the court that the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) oxygen plant is nearly four decades old.

“It will cost Rs1 billion to make the plant functional,” he said adding that a detailed report on the oxygen situation will be submitted to the court.

Meanwhile, the counsel of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) stated that the Ministry of Industries and Production deals with the supply of medical oxygen and drug regulator has nothing to do with it.

The court, while directing government to fix the price within two days, also instructed relevant authorities to submit a report on the way the prices have been set.