ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Parvez Ashraf on Saturday directed to withdraw the recent increase in prices of petroleum products, a day after protests and walkouts in the National Assembly over the price hike, Dispatch News Desk (DND) reported.
On Thursday, the government increased prices of petroleum products in a range between Rs 3.53 and Rs 4.35 per litre and the revised prices were to be effective from March 1.
According to the notification issued on Thursday, from March 1 the price of petrol would have been increased by Rs3.53 per litre (3.42 per cent) to Rs106.60, that of high speed diesel by Rs4.35 (3.99 per cent) to Rs113.56, kerosene by Rs3.75 (3.76 per cent) to Rs103.69 and light diesel by Rs3.93 (4.2 per cent) to Rs98.25.
In reaction on Friday, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz boycotted the National Assembly session, strongly condemning recent increase in the prices of petroleum products, terming it as a conspiracy and cruelty to the people.
According to reports, the prime minister summoned Finance Minister Saleem H. Mandviwalla to the PM House in Islamabad on Saturday. PM Ashraf said that the democratic government should not increase the burdens on the common man.
The PM ordered the finance minister to withdraw all price increases which were to be implemented after March 1.
Following the PM’s orders, all increases notified Thursday would be revoked and prices would stay at their current levels.
The government is expected to issue an official notification regarding the withdrawal later in the day.
DND
