Pakistan hikes fuel prices ahead of elections

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's interim government, headed by Prime Minister Justice (Retd.) Nasir-ul-Mulk, hiked fuel prices for the second time in two months on Saturday night, ahead of the general elections in July.

The sky-high fuel prices, which will be effective from July 1, are likely to cause economic woes to the citizens of the country, Geo TV reported.

As per a notification, the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene oil, light diesel and high-speed diesel currently stand at - Rs. 99.50, Rs. 119.31, Rs. 87.70, Rs. 80.91, and Rs.105.31, respectively. (Pakistani rupees)

Prices for the above fuels have been hiked by Rs. 7.54, Rs. 14.00, Rs. 3.36, Rs. 5.92, and Rs. 6.55 in petrol, diesel, kerosene oil, light diesel, and high-speed diesel, as per the report.

Pakistan's Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) had recommended an increase in prices of petrol, diesel, and kerosene oil by Rs. 5.40, Rs. 6.20, and Rs. 12.00 for the month of July.

According to sources, OGRA forwarded a summary of the revised fuel prices to the Petroleum Division of the Ministry of Energy of Pakistan.

Earlier in the month, the interim government had hiked the fuel prices by Rs. 4.26, Rs. 6.55, and Rs. 4.46 per litre for petrol, diesel, and kerosene oil respectively for the period between June 12 and June 30.

The chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, had earlier lambasted the caretaker government's decision to raise fuel prices last month.

He said the government should concentrate on ensuring free and fair elections instead of putting an unnecessary economic burden on the population.