Eri News reported that the Government of Pakistan increased the prices of petrol and diesel for the next fortnight with a significant increase in diesel prices by PKR7.
According to the official notification reported by Arya News, the prices of new petrol have been raised by PKR1, which takes the price to PKR 257.13 per liter. Diesel prices have been increased to 7 per liter, new prices have been taken to 267.95.
In particular, the Government of Pakistan increased the prices of petroleum for fortnight on 1 January.
On 1 January, the Government of Pakistan announced an increase in the price of high-speed diesel by PKR 2.96 per liter and an increase in petrol price by 56 Pakistan Pisas 56 Pakistan Pisas, Eri News said.
According to Eri News, the updated price for petrol and diesel was PKR 252.66 per liter and PKR 258.34 per liter respectively.
Earlier, Eri News further stated that the Government of Pakistan has failed to reduce petroleum levy, which has contributed significantly to the increase in petroleum prices. In the last one month, petroleum prices have increased by 12.14 per liter.
In November last year, opposition parties in Pakistan severely criticized the central government to increase the prices of petroleum, arguing that this inflation would give more burden to the citizens, the Gio News.
The displeasure over the government’s decision was expressed by several major opposition parties, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami.
According to Geo News, the Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Remon strongly condemned the increase in petroleum prices, calling it “embarrassing”. The GE leader criticized the government for inability to provide relief to the general public or industrial sector.
Hafiz Naeem highlighted that while international prices are decreasing, Pakistan is experiencing price hike.
