Islamabad: The government has set the new price of petrol at
Rs 458.40 while the price of diesel at Rs 520.
The increase in the prices of petroleum products was
announced by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb during a press conference in
Islamabad along with Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik.
The Finance Minister announced that the price of petrol has
been increased by Rs 137.23 per liter, after which the new price of petrol has
been increased to Rs 458.40 per liter, while the price of diesel has been increased
by Rs 184.49 per liter, after which the new price of diesel has been set at Rs
520.35.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said in the press
conference that he is grateful to President Asif Ali Zardari and the Chief
Ministers of the four provinces for guiding him regarding energy prices.
He said that the government has taken difficult and
responsible decisions. The situation in the region has put the entire world
economy in difficulty. We should try to extinguish this fire somehow.
He said that due to the Iran war, energy prices have
skyrocketed, crude oil prices have increased to a record high in the global
market, the price of crude oil has exceeded $250 per barrel, the Prime Minister
cut the salaries of cabinet members through an austerity campaign and the
burden of the increase in the prices of petroleum products should not fall on
the pockets of the people.
He said that in those countries that have large reserves of
crude oil, there is also an energy crisis today, there is a rush of people at
petrol pumps, armed forces are deployed outside petrol pumps and oil depots.
On this occasion, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said
that a big meeting was held today in which all the leadership and the military
leadership were present, important decisions were made in the meeting, and motorcyclists
will get a subsidy of Rs. 100 per liter for 3 months, intercity public
transport will also get a subsidy of Rs. 100 per liter on diesel.
Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb said that the
government has fixed a subsidy of Rs 100 per liter for motorcyclists and 20
liters of petrol will be subsidized every month, while this will be applicable
for three months.
He said that a one-time subsidy of Rs 1,500 will be given to
small landowners at the time of harvesting, while Rs 100 per liter will be
given to intercity passenger vehicles and freight vehicles, Rs 70,000 per month
for freight trucks, Rs 80,000 for large freight vehicles, and Rs 100,000 per
month for passenger buses.
The finance minister said that the government will review the subsidy again after a month, and a subsidy will also be given to the railways, which will benefit lower-class passengers. He said that the government has also decided that markets will open during the day to save electricity and fuel consumption. The market hours will be fixed by next week in consultation with the provincial governments.
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