Minister Finance dismissed critics upon fuel price rise

Lahore : Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Dr Miftah Ismail Tuesday said the criticism by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership on the petroleum prices was unjustified.

The minister, in a statement here, said the prices of petroleum products, even after the recent raise, were still lower than those during the PPP regime. The level of taxation of the products in most cases was also lower than that prevalent in the Pakistan Peoples Party days, he added.

He said the petrol price in March 2013 was Rs 106.60, diesel Rs 113.56, superior Kerosene oil Rs 103.69 and light diesel oil Rs 98.26.  However, despite the consistent increase in international oil prices during the last year, the prices in Pakistan were still considerably less than those levels set in the PPP days, he added.

The minister said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government had brought about a huge change in the economic conditions of the country and if the opposition, including the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the PPP had cooperated instead of creating hurdles in the way of economic development of the country, things would have been even more better for the common man.