The ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has increased petroleum products’ prices up to Rs30 per litre that had once solely held Mehngai Mukai March [End Inflation March] in the month of March before ousting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in the Centre.
PML-N’s Finance Minister Miftah Ismail had announced on Thursday that the government decided to increase the prices of Petrol, High-Speed Diesel, Kerosene Oil and Light Diesel Oil by Rs30 per litre from Friday, May 27, 2022. “New prices will go into effect at midnight. The new price of petrol will be Rs179.86 & diesel will be Rs174.15 per litre.”
Government has decided to increase the prices of Petrol, High Speed Diesel, Kerosene Oil and Light Diesel Oil by Rs 30 per litre from Friday May 27, 2022. New prices will go into effect at midnight. The new price of petrol will be Rs 179.86 & diesel will be Rs 174.15 per litre.
— Miftah Ismail (@MiftahIsmail) May 26, 2022
The ruling PML-N and its coalition partners had censured each move of the Imran Khan-led PTI government.
The formerly ruling party criticised the PML-N leaders, especially Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shahbaz who had led the PML-N’s Mehngai Mukao March.
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A tweet sent on the official Twitter account of PTI read, “Dear” imported government, now that you have increased the petrol prices by Rs.30 we want to remind you of your hypocrisy. This is what you used to say when in the past Petrol prices were increased! #آرہاہے_الیکشن”
“Dear” imported government, now that you have increased the petrol prices by Rs.30 we want to remind you of your hypocrisy. This is what you used to say when in the past Petrol prices were increased! #آرہاہے_الیکشن pic.twitter.com/l86P4NQDCw
— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 26, 2022
The PML-N had vowed during the anti-government campaign against PTI that they will reduce the petrol price to Rs70 per litre.
یاد رہے یہ وہی لوگ ہیں جو تحریک انصاف حکومت کے دور میں دعوے کرتے تھے کہ جب یہ حکومت میں آئیں گے تو 70 روپے فی لیٹر پیٹرول دیں گے!!! #آرہاہے_الیکشن pic.twitter.com/67bCxRBGru
— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 27, 2022
However, after coming into power, the PML-N government did contrary to what it had promised to the people for reducing the inflation rate and petroleum products prices.
After the recent hike of Rs30, the new price of petrol will be Rs179.86 per litre, high-speed diesel (HSD) Rs174.15, kerosene oil Rs155.56 and light diesel Rs148.31 rupees.
He then blamed the PTI government had fixed the petrol and diesel prices in violation of its promise with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and now Pakistan could not receive the IMF loan without increasing the prices of petroleum products.
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Ismail claimed that it is inevitable to hike the POL prices for getting IMF loans which are in the national interests to revive the economy.
Policy shift
Earlier, News360 reported that the real story behind Ismail’s outcry is a policy shift by the present Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government instead of continuing the plan of the previous government.
In March 2022, the former PTI government gave a Rs38 billion subsidy on fuel, whereas, it planned to purchase oil from Russia at 30 per cent less price as compared to the global market. It may be noted here that India is already purchasing oil from Russia at a lower price as it bore the pressure of Western countries and refused to stop the oil purchases.
The neighbouring country’s government asked the West to initiate the purchases of oil from European states as it buy a huge amount of oil stock from Russia in only one day which is almost sufficient for India for the one month.
On the other hand, former prime minister Imran Khan’s decision for oil purchases from Russia was subjugated and a regime change plan was succeeded in the country by the then opposition. The present government did not pursue the former PTI government’s policy nor made any progress on the deal.