PM directs petroleum minister to rush to Karachi for fuel price relief

Business Recorder reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik to travel to Karachi at once and take urgent steps to ease fuel costs for the public. According to the Prime Minister's Office, the instruction followed a meeting that also included Attaullah Tarar, Ahad Khan Cheema, Musadik Malik and Hamza Shehbaz. The premier asked the minister to personally conclude talks with local refineries, since a large share of the diesel supply comes from them, in order to lower its price.

Jamaat-e-Islami had staged citywide protests against the heavy petroleum levy and frequent fuel price increases, blocking Shahrah-e-Faisal and other roads. On Tuesday the Petroleum Division revised ex-depot prices effective August 19, lifting petrol by Rs3.34 per litre to Rs334.54 and high-speed diesel by Rs5.27 per litre to Rs395.69. The levy on high-speed diesel was raised to Rs78.28, while the levy on petrol stayed unchanged at Rs80 per litre.