By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has revealed a staggering 850% increase in gas prices over just four months.
During a National Assembly session chaired by Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah, detailed statistics on rising commodity prices were presented.
PBS reported a 53.5% increase in sugar prices and a 61% rise in palm oil prices over the past five years. The prices of soybean oil, wheat, and crude oil have also surged by 35% during the same period.
Officials attributed the overall inflation to price hikes in electricity and gas under the IMF programme. According to PBS, gas tariffs were increased by 520% in November 2023 and an additional 319% in February 2024.
Similarly, electricity tariffs rose by 35% in November 2023 and 75% in February 2024.
The PBS further highlighted that the extraordinary increases in electricity and gas prices contributed significantly to the overall inflation in the country.
Additionally, the Ministry of Finance disclosed that mobile phone users were charged PKR 338 billion in taxes over the past five years. Officials presented details of this tax collection to the assembly, revealing that the amount was collected from consumers during the specified period.
