The prices of petroleum products in Pakistan are still less looking in comparison to other regional countries, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin has stated, as he defended the current rise in rates of petroleum products.
Tarin, talking at a press conference in Islamabad with the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib, stated the government is charging only Rs2-2.5 petroleum tax regardless of the fact that Rs600 billion were fixed under this head.
He said Pakistan in numbered 17th in the area when it comes to petrol prices.
“Prices in the international market have increased recently forcing the government to hike local prices,” he said, one day following the charges of petrol was hiked up by Rs4 per litre and that of high speed diesel (HSD) by Rs2 per litre.
The minister put the blame on the previous government for the troubles the country is encountering today. “Pakistan became a food importer due to mismanagement during the last 30 years. We are currently importing wheat, sugar and pulses.”
Shaukat Tarin state that Prime Minister Imran Khan stopped the ministry from increasing the tax as he wanted to reduce the burden on the common people. “This is the reason we want to give direct subsidy to the lower-income group.”
