Hike in Petrol price challenged

From Abid Usman

LAHORE: The recent hike in petrol price was challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday. Advocate Azhar Siddique of Judicial Activism Panel moved the petition against the increase in petrol price. “The prices of petroleum products were decreased in the international market but here the prices were increased in Pakistan,” the petitioner said. The increase in the prices of petroleum products will bring a storm of inflation ahead of Eidul Fitr, said the petition.
Advocate Azhar Siddique prayed to court to direct the authorities not to implement the increase in petrol price. The federal government on Sunday increased the petrol price by Rs9.66 per litre for the next fortnight.
After the latest hike, the new price of the petrol reached Rs289.41 per litre.
Earlier, The federal government on Sunday increased the petrol price by Rs9.66 per litre for the next fortnight. After the latest hike, the new price of the petrol reached Rs289.41 per litre. The price of high-speed diesel (HSD) has been slashed by Rs3.32 per litre to Rs282.24.
The government attributed the hike to the recent surge in global crude prices.
Effective from April 1, the Finance Division confirmed the implementation of these new fuel prices.
Explaining the rationale behind the adjustments, the Finance Division highlighted that while petrol prices have risen in the international market over the past fortnight, there has been a slight decline in the price of HSD.
A vast majority of people are already reeling under economic crunch and the latest uptick in the fuel prices will add to the burden just ahead of Eid.