Shehbaz Sharif lashes out at PTI govt after surge in petroleum prices

The opposition leader on twitter posted that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has yet again set a record by increasing the rates of petroleum products.

 “For the first time in history, the prices of petroleum products have touched all-time high’’, read the post. The PML-N leader added that the reality of the tax-free budget of the government has been revealed.

The backlash comes following the federal government’s decision to increase the price of petrol by Rs5.40 per liter. Rs2.54 hike in price of high speed diesel (HSD), and Rs1.27 per liter increase in the price of light diesel, has been approved by the government.

The government also approved an increase of Rs 1.39 per liter in the rate of kerosene oil. The new rates will be implemented as of today, July 16.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill made this announcement in a tweet on Thursday.

Gill said government would bear the extra burden as Prime Minister Imran Khan approved Rs5.40 per liter petrol price against the OGRA's recommendation. He claimed that the citizens are being provided 'big relief'.

PTI has increased the prices of petroleum products second time in the last 15 days as the government had previously increased the prices of all petroleum products by up to 4.7 per cent.

Earlier, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and the Sindh government's spokesman MurtazaWahab rejected the increase in POL prices, terming the increase a cruel step.

He lamented Prime Minister Imran Khan for announcing increase only by revising down the price recommended by OGRA, saying the government's spokesman start speaking high of the premier for announcing less increase.

"The government doesn't bother the difficulties and sufferings of masses," Wahab said and demanded to withdraw increase forthwith.