Says the government is not responsible for the increase and introduced targeted subsidies to support vulnerable groups
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah. SCREENGRAB
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Friday defended the recent increase in petroleum prices, saying the government had made sustained efforts to shield the public from the impact and had introduced targeted subsidies to ease the burden on vulnerable groups.
The government on Thursday further increased petrol price by Rs137 per litre, to history’s highest ever level of Rs458.4 after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decided to impose more taxes on consumers. The government also increased the high-speed diesel price to Pakistan’s highest level of Rs520.35 per litre — an increase of Rs185 per litre or 55%.
Read: Govt increases petrol tax to Rs161 per litre, sets new price at Rs458 per litre
In a video statement, Sanaullah said the world was facing an unprecedented surge in global petroleum prices, which had affected Pakistan in the same way as other nations. “In view of this situation, the prices of petrol and diesel were increased,” he said.
He noted that the government had delayed passing on the increase to consumers for three weeks by adopting austerity measures and utilising financial resources.
“Initially, austerity measures were implemented, after which the prime minister created a fund. Around Rs129 billion was spent from this fund, allowing the government to hold prices steady for three weeks,” he added.
However, he said, such measures could not be sustained indefinitely. He revealed that extensive consultations were held with chief ministers of all provinces, as well as leaders from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, alongside political, administrative and military leadership, to find ways to minimise the impact on the public. Following these deliberations, the government decided to introduce targeted subsidies.
Sanaullah said motorcycle users had been identified as one of the most vulnerable groups, while farmers would receive Rs1,500 per acre to support them during the upcoming harvesting season.
He added that goods transport operators would be given subsidies ranging from Rs70,000 to Rs80,000 per month, depending on capacity, to prevent fare increases. Similarly, passenger bus operators would receive Rs100,000 per month to keep ticket prices stable.
Defending the price hike, the adviser said the government was not responsible for the increase, attributing it instead to the ongoing war, which had driven up global fuel prices. “Everyone knows who started the war and why,” he remarked.
Referring to concerns about fuel shortages, he said Pakistan had managed to avoid any disruption in supply due to the prime minister’s continuous efforts, contrasting the situation with that in other countries.
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Sanaullah criticised elements calling for protests against the government, saying they were ignoring its efforts and attempting to incite the public for political purposes. “The government has tried to keep prices low and reduce the burden on the poor. It is also striving for an end to the conflict,” he said, adding that protests should instead be directed at those responsible for the war.
He warned that if the conflict continued for another two to four months, the situation could worsen globally, not just in Pakistan. “We must face these challenges together and avoid internal divisions,” he said.
Urging restraint, he advised citizens to remain vigilant against those seeking to exploit the situation for personal or political gain.
“This is not a crisis of our making,” he said. “We are among those working to resolve it and promote public welfare. As a determined and united nation, we will overcome this challenge as well.”
