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ISLAMABAD: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi claimed on Wednesday that the petrol price in Pakistan is the lowest compared to other oil importing countries of the world and the government had passed on full relief of declining oil prices in the international market to people.

“Pakistan has the lowest petroleum prices as compared to other countries which import oil. Pakistan reduced Rs 5 per liter petrol on first of February while India decreased price by four paisas per litre. The government is collecting Rs 25.59 tax on petrol. The price of petroleum is 40 percent greater in other countries as compared to Pakistan,” Abbasi said while winding up a discussion on a motion in connection with situation arising out of non-reduction of oil prices in accordance with the global price decline.

He said the present price of petrol in Pakistan is Rs 71.25 and in India, it is over Rs 100 per litre while in Bangladesh the price is 103 rupees per litre.

The Minister said that average diesel price in the world is 83 cent per litre while in Pakistan it is 73 cent per litre. However, he said that the price of diesel in India is 3 cent lower as compared to Pakistan.

“If we decrease the price of petroleum products further then we could not meet budget targets (deficit). For this purpose, the provinces have to pay a two-third to fulfil budget deficit. We have to pay a one-third to repay loans,” he added.

Abbasi said that Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) is aimed at improve=ing the system of gas in the country. He said Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) consumers will pay the cost of gas pipelines and no burden will be put on people.

While winding up debate on implementation of the Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952 in PIA, Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid said that these are the efforts of the government to improve the services of the national flag carrier.

He said that strike of PIA employees was illegal. We expressed sorrow over the death of two employees and the investigation in this regard is underway. Action would be taken against those who are involved in it, he said.

“PIA faced losses of Rs 4.31 billion in the 15-day of strike,” he said.

Earlier, the opposition urged the government to immediately decrease prices of petroleum products, particularly diesel.

Shazia Marri of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said the government reduced prices of petroleum products for providing relief to the people.

Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and Syed Asif Hasnain said benefit of reduction in oil import bill should be passed on to the masses.

Ghulam Ahmad Bilour said the reduction in oil prices is necessary to give relief to people and address the issue of price hike.

Ghulam Sarwar Khan said that a meeting of Council of Common Interests (CCI) should be convened to sort out the issues of the provinces. He said that petroleum prices should be decreased in accordance with a decline in the international oil market.

Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Qaiser Ahmad Sheikh of PML-N also took part in the debate.