Ministers warn that prices are likely to rise in the future and that current fuel supplies must be used responsibly.
The federal government on Saturday urged the public to adopt new austerity measures in daily life and cooperate with authorities in energy conservation in light of the fuel crisis created by the conflict in the Middle East.
Two weeks ago, the government sharply increased diesel and petrol prices by Rs 55 per liter or 20%, due to the ongoing war between the United States, Israel and Iran, which has disrupted supply chains and pushed crude oil prices to a two-year high.
The increase in gasoline prices was greater than the increase in the international market, as the government chose to collect more money than necessary from motorcyclists and car owners to subsidize the use of diesel, mainly in public transport and the agricultural sector. However, the Prime Minister announced last night that the federal government had twice absorbed the burden of rising fuel prices rather than passing it on to the public.
Since then, both the federal and provincial governments have introduced a series of austerity measures, including an extra weekly holiday, cutting free gas allowances for ministers, limiting protocol vehicles and proposing subsidized fuel for students.
At a press conference today, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik called on the public to come forward and implement more austerity measures to cooperate with the government in fuel conservation.
They warned that prices are likely to rise in the future and said the country’s current fuel reserves should be consumed responsibly.
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More to follow.
