Ministries' lavish workshop leaves a stain on austerity mantra.

ISLAMABAD -- The Petroleum Division has moved its three-day retreat from historic Takht-e-Babri in Punjab to picturesque Whispering Pines in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to discuss oil and gas sector issues and celebrate Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's austerity measures.

More than 55 top executives of public sector entities from across the country and the Petroleum Division, including Minister of State Dr Musadik Malik, have been advised to come up with substantial cash or other financial arrangements as ATMs are not located at the venue of the workshop.

'All participants are directed to report/register for the workshop on March 18 at 08:30 hrs at the venue/hotel, where it will be mandatory to remain available throughout the schedule of the workshop', said an order conveyed to chairmen, managing directors, chief executives and chief financial and operating officers of various companies working under the Petroleum Division besides the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority.

Under a decision of the Federal Cabinet on Feb 22, the government has issued instructions for strict compliance to ensure austerity measures. One of the top instructions included that a 'single dish in case of meals and tea and biscuits on other occasions shall be served in government events/meetings. This will be served at official premises only and not in hotels except in case of foreign delegation'.

However, the Petroleum Division's workshop will be attended by all the public sector employees and would now be held at Whispering Pines Hotel and Residences, in Haripur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

'The purpose of the workshop is to bring together stakeholders, corporations and companies working in the energy sector to develop a strategic roadmap for the entire value chain of the petroleum sector in Pakistan', said the order also sent out to a couple of private sector companies.

To...