Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has said that the criticism by the Peoples Party leadership on the hike in petroleum prices is unjustified. He said that the prices of petroleum products, even after the recent raise, are still at a lower level compared to the PPP’s tenure. He said that the level of taxes on these products was also lower than during the PPP’s government.
Ismail said that in March 2013 petrol price was Rs.106.6, diesel Rs. 113.56, SKO Rs.103.69 and LDO Rs.98.26. Despite the consistent increase in international oil prices during the last year, the prices in Pakistan were still considerably lower than those during the PPP days, he said.
The minister said that PML-N government had brought about a huge change in the economic conditions of the country and if the opposition, including PTI and PPP had cooperated instead of creating hurdles in the way of economic development of the country, things would have been even better for the common people.
Published in Daily Times, May 2nd 2018.
