ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the Petroleum Minister to take strict action against petrol pumps accused of failing to pass on fuel price relief to consumers.
Addressing a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad, the prime minister said complaints had been received that some petrol stations were not providing the promised relief to the public despite government measures to keep fuel prices under control.
He instructed the petroleum minister to take action against the operators responsible for denying consumers the benefit, stressing that no one would be allowed to exploit the public.
Shehbaz said petrol prices were scheduled to increase by Rs15 per litre on Friday, but the government prevented the hike through timely decisions.
He maintained that the government was making efforts to protect consumers from additional financial pressure amid fluctuations in fuel prices.
The prime minister also announced that the government would end the influence of what he described as the LPG mafia and provide relief to consumers by importing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
He said the government intended to ensure adequate LPG supplies in the market and reduce the burden on households through direct imports.
The PM’s remarks came as the government faces pressure to ensure that relief measures translate into actual benefits for consumers, particularly amid concerns over fuel prices and the cost of living.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to providing relief to the public while addressing issues affecting energy supplies and security in the country.
The Prime Minister reiterated his unwavering commitment to eliminating the menace of terrorism from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through mutual cooperation among the armed forces, the new provincial setup and the federal government.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan is continuing its efforts to promote peace in the region. He highlighted that a Pakistani delegation visited Tehran twice over the past two to three weeks. He said the discussions focused not only on reducing regional tensions but also on promoting regional cooperation.
Referring to the impact of regional tensions on fuel prices, the Prime Minister said the burden of fifteen rupees per litre on petrol has not been passed on to consumers due to engagement with refineries, which were asked to share their windfall profits. In this regard, he appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Petroleum.
He said the fuel subsidy scheme is as also being implemented in a transparent and successful manner. He said fifteen million people have benefited from the scheme, with twenty-eight billion rupees spent on it. He said the scheme would continue at least until the end of next month.
The Prime Minister said the era of the LPG mafia has come to an end with the introduction of a mechanism to ensure greater transparency in supply and distribution.
He assured that despite challenges to shipping routes, all-out efforts would be made to ensure supply of LNG, LPG and other energy sources during the winter season. He said that efforts would also be made to contain the impact of higher energy prices.
