ISLAMABAD, June 1 (APP): Despite surge in prices of petroleum products in the international market and financial constraints, the government’s decision to keep the oil prices unchanged in June appeared to be a real respite for the general public during the upcoming holy month of Ramazan.
The government will bear Rs 8.5 billion expenses to maintain the prices, leaving no justification for the ‘mafia’ planning to mint extra money from consumers on edibles, daily use items and commuters in the name of petrol price hike.
People from different walks of life have appreciated this step of the government, pinning high hopes with it that there would be effective mechanism of check and balance to ensure provision of edible items at controlled rates during the fasting month.
Abdul Waheed, a senior citizen residing in Model Town (Humak) a rural area of the federal capital, told APP that now it was the responsibility of the respective district administrations to ensure trickle down effect of the lowered POL prices to the common man.
He said the government’s decision would remain useless, if there was no check on the elements fleecing the general public by creating artificial prices hike, hoarding and black-marketing of the daily use items particularly vegetables and
fruits ahead of Ramazan.
Zaheer Khan, a government servant termed the decision of not increasing the oil prices a ‘good relief’ for the common man as it would not only ensure availability of edibles in Ramazan at the prescribed rates but also help them in Eid preparations.
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI) has lauded the government efforts to retain the petroleum prices which would be a big relief to masses especially in the month of Ramazan.
“We appreciate that the Federal government has rejected the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s (OGRA) summary of increasing prices of petroleum products,” FPCCI Vice President Riaz Khattak said.
He said the maintained prices would play an important role in
controlling the food prices, and “timely intervention by the Prime Minister once again had won the confidence of the trade body.”
FPCCI, he said, would fully cooperate with the government to realize the economic targets in which expanding tax net was of the paramount importance.