ISLAMABAD: The government rejected a summary to increase the petrol price by Rs21.30 per litre and diesel by Rs 119, in the national interest.
According to sources, there will be no change in the prices of petroleum products, the government will bear the burden itself, no burden will be imposed on the people and prices will remain unchanged for the next 15 days.
It may be recalled that as soon as the new government came to power yesterday, preparations were made to drop petrol bombs on the people.
A minimum increase of Rs 21 and a maximum increase of Rs 119 per liter was suggested by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday at an Iftar dinner hosted for the leadership and parliamentarians of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
The PM rejected summary of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to increase prices of petrol by Rs 21 and of other petroleum products by Rs 50 and said the government would continue to provide relief to the people.
He said the last government suddenly announced subsidy on petroleum products and did not allocate enough financial resources for the relief. “We cannot put more burden on people,” he said adding the previous government even did not give subsidy on flour this Ramazan. He said the facts regarding the petroleum products prices would be put before the people.
He vowed that the government would continue to work for the welfare and prosperity of the people and would resolve their issues. He said the opposition alliance defeated Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi with its day and night struggle, adding the coalition of parties in government would move ahead with consultation.
The structure built by the previous government was falling like a house of sand, he remarked.
While thanking the coalition partners for electing him as prime minister, he said he would remain in touch with the allied parties’ parliamentarians and would resolve problems of their constituencies.
He said names of the cabinet members would be announced in two phases, adding the initial names for the cabinet would be announced soon while more names of cabinet ministers would be announced in the second phase in the next few days.
Shehbaz said Prime Minister House would be turned into Pakistan House and officers from all the provinces would get an opportunity to serve in it.
He informed that he had sent to the President the summaries of resignations of Speaker National Assembly and Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
