ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Sunday said the entire country could not be run on subsidy, a day after Pakistan recorded a historic hike in petroleum prices.
The Pakistani government increased the price of petrol by Rs10.49 and that of high-speed diesel by Rs12.44 on Saturday, taking them to Rs137.79 and Rs134.48 per liter, respectively.
The prices of kerosene and light diesel oil rose by Rs10.95 and Rs8.84 to Rs110.26 and Rs108.35 a liter, respectively.
This is perhaps the first time the four major petroleum products are being simultaneously sold above Rs100 in the country, according to the publicly available data.
The move drew the ire of the opposition and the masses, who said it would lead to further inflation in the country.
But Hussain said the opponents were waging such “propaganda” as if Pakistan existed on some other “planet.”
“If the prices of oil and gas would go up globally, then they would increase in Pakistan as well,” he contended in a Twitter post.
“The entire country cannot run on subsidy. Prices are high today, they will come down tomorrow, then they will decrease here too.”
تیل کی قیمت میں اضافے کو لیکر ایسے پروپیگنڈا ہو رہا ہے جیسے ہم کوئ دنیا سے کسی علیحدہ سیارے پر ہیں اگر دنیا میں تیل، گیس اوپر جائیگا پاکستان میں بھی اوپر جائیگا، سارا ملک سبسڈی پر نہیں چل سکتا آج قیمتیں اوپر ہیں کل کم ہو جائینگی تو یہاں بھی کم ہو جائیں گی،
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 17, 2021
The minister said these financial difficulties were temporary, adding that industries, agriculture and the construction sector were making historic profits.
Admitting financial difficulties of the working class, he also suggested a solution to them.
“The salaried class is facing problems and the private sector should raise salaries of its workers,” Hussain said.
“Increase in pay and employment is a solution to inflation.”
ایک قوم کی طرح مل کر مشکلات کا سامنا کریں گے، معاشی مشکلات عارضی ہیں انڈسٹری ، زراعت اور تعمیرات کے شعبے تاریخی منافع کما رہے ہیں تنخواہ دار طبقے کی مشکلات ہیں پرائیویٹ سیکٹر اپنے ورکرز کی تنخواہوں میں اضافہ کرے آمدنی اور روزگار میں اضافہ مہنگائ کا توڑ ہے۔
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 17, 2021
