PTI condemns increase in gas prices

Karachi
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's city president lambasted the federal government and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) for raising gas prices.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ali Zaidi, said the recent hike in gas tariffs appears to be dictated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to obtain the next tranche of $506 million later this month. “The hike in gas prices would be applied to all sectors, which will cause an increase in the cost of production for the industries resulting in massive inflation,” he said. “The farmers now will likely pay additional Rs 35-40 per bag on urea fertilizers, leading to higher food prices.”
Zaidi also claimed the gas-run-power plants would face 21 percent price hike which will be eventually passed on to the consumers through higher electricity tariffs of 8 percent to 10 percent.
Petroleum prices
On the recent reduction of petroleum prices, the PTI leader blamed the PMLN government of hoodwinking the people by not reducing fuel prices proportional to the international rates but instead increasing the GST to generate revenues, he termed the step “a daylight robbery”.
“Over the past 12 months, the OPEC basket price has plunged by nearly 55 percent to US$ 42.19 per barrel but the petrol price in Pakistan has only decreased by around 32 percent. The government has pocketed revenues by increasing the GST rates,” he claimed. “The GST on petrol was increased to 25.5 percent from 20 percent, on HOBC to 24 percent, on kerosene to 30 percent from 20 percent and on Light Diesel Oil to 29.5 percent from 20 percent.” He urged the chief justice to take suo moto notice on the price raise.