2024-07-17 10:59:46
Islamabad: Inflation in Pakistan has been a cause of trouble for the common people for quite some time now. Especially the increased electricity prices have broken the back of the common people. In recent times, protests have been seen in many parts of Pakistan regarding electricity bills. Amidst all this, the government led by Pakistan’s PM Shahbaz Sharif has put a new burden on the people by increasing the prices of petrol and diesel. In Pakistan, the price of petrol has been increased by Rs 10 per liter and diesel by Rs 6. The reason for the increase in prices has been told to be the international market.
According to a report in Pakistani newspaper Dawn, on Monday, the government has increased the price of petrol by Rs 9.99 per liter and the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs 6.18 per liter. This information has been given in the notification issued by the Finance Division. After the increase in prices, the new price of petrol in Pakistan has become Rs 275.6 per liter. Diesel (HSD) is Rs 283.63 per liter. The prices of petrol and diesel in the country are now seen moving towards Rs 300 per liter.
The price of crude oil increased in the international market
According to the report, due to high oil prices globally, petrol prices were expected to increase by Rs 7.60 and diesel by Rs 3.50, but the increase has been much more than this. It has been told that in the last fortnight, the price of petrol in the international market has increased by $ 4.4 and the price of HSD has increased by $ 2 per barrel. In Pakistan, the government currently charges Rs 77 per liter tax on both petrol and HSD. Although the general sales tax on petroleum products is zero, the government charges Rs 60 per liter PDL on both products, which affects the public more.
Petroleum and electricity prices are the major reasons for rising inflation in Pakistan. Petrol is mostly used in personal transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers. On the other hand, diesel is mostly used in heavy transport vehicles. This directly increases the prices of vegetables and other food items.