PM Shehbaz promises oil relief, firmly rejects major fuel price hike

PM – (Web Desk) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke to the nation on Friday evening. He said the government is doing everything it can to protect people from rising fuel prices. He also spoke about efforts to keep peace in the region.

The PM said Pakistan is dealing with two big problems right now. One is the rising cost of oil. The other is keeping things stable in the region. He said he personally spoke with leaders of Iran and Gulf countries to help bring lasting peace.

Sharif admitted the situation is tough. He said the government has already made some hard financial decisions. One of them was cutting Rs100 billion from the development budget. He said this was done to ease the pressure on the economy.

He then talked about fuel prices. He said someone had suggested raising diesel prices by Rs203 per litre and petrol by Rs95 per litre. He rejected both proposals. He said the government will instead carry an extra burden of Rs56 billion this week so the public does not have to pay more.

“Nothing matters more to me than the financial security of the people,” he said. He pointed out that based on world market prices, petrol should cost Rs544 per litre in Pakistan. But people are only paying Rs322. That difference is being covered by the government.

He said many countries are struggling right now. People in some places are waiting in long lines just to get fuel. Prices have doubled across the world. Over the past three weeks alone the government has absorbed Rs125 billion in costs to protect citizens.

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He also praised Field Marshal Asim Munir for his role in peace efforts in the Middle East.

At the end of his speech the PM said the government is working on a full plan to bring the country out of this difficult time. He asked the people to be patient and to stand with the government during this hard period.