ISLAMABAD: Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik has said that the price of petrol was to be increased by Rs 15 on Friday, but on the instructions of the Prime Minister, this burden was put on the refineries instead of being transferred to the people.
He said this while holding a press conference with Information Minister Atta Tarar in Islamabad.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz said that the increase in energy prices at the global level also had an impact on the Pakistani economy. In view of the situation in the region, transportation costs have also increased. Providing relief to the people is one of the prime minister’s top priorities. The government launched the fuel subsidy scheme for public relief. Millions of people are benefiting from the fuel subsidy scheme. Prices are continuing to increase in global markets. Insurance and logistics costs are increasing. The region is facing difficulties due to the tense situation.
He said that in difficult times, oil refineries have been requested to cooperate to provide relief to the people. With the cooperation of oil refineries, the people will be able to provide petrol at a cheaper price of Rs 15 per liter. With the help of refineries, petrol prices were maintained. Even today, some relief will be given in petrol prices. Refineries have earned so much profit within 3 months that they have not earned in years. On Friday, petrol prices were to be increased by Rs 15, but refineries cooperated in this regard. In collaboration with the government, the refineries have raised a load of Rs 15 billion.
Ali Pervez Malik said that more than 13 million consumers are benefiting from petroleum products through government relief. The government does not want to do any injustice to anyone, they want to get out of the international crisis in a transparent manner.
Information Minister Atta Tarar
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that the Prime Minister had a vision from the first day that the minimum burden of the increase in the prices of petroleum products should be placed on the people. Like the rest of the world, the Pakistani economy was also affected by the regional situation. The situation in Bab al-Mandab and the Strait of Hormuz has affected the economy of every country. Pakistan’s economy was also affected, but our macroeconomic indicators remained good. The price of petrol was to increase by Rs 15 on Friday. On the instructions of the Prime Minister, this burden was placed on the refineries. The Prime Minister’s mission is to transfer the minimum burden to the people.
The Information Minister said that it was not possible to devise a system like the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief. More than 15 million people have been registered under the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme. The registration of such a large number of people and the provision of cheap fuel to them is a big proof of the success of a scheme. So far, Rs 27 billion has been given as relief under the scheme.
The Information Minister said that the fuel relief scheme will continue to provide relief to the public. A relief scheme has been launched for motorcycles, rickshaws and small vehicles. The relevant departments have taken joint steps for the fuel subsidy scheme. As part of the strategy, further increase in the prices of petroleum products has been prevented.