Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting on the proposal to blend ethanol with locally produced petrol by refineries.

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 PMO.

The meeting was attended by SAPM Tariq Bajwa; the Secretaries of Petroleum and Industries and Production; the Chairman, OGRA; and representatives from the Pakistan Ethanol Manufacturers Association and the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association.