Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah said on Friday that petrol and diesel price hikes result from the Middle East war. He added that the Pakistani government “has nothing to do with it,” affecting motorists, farmers, and transporters nationwide. Sanaullah stressed that global oil shocks forced the unprecedented 43% and 55% increases in petrol and high-speed diesel.
Sanaullah explained that the government had absorbed the burden for three weeks, spending Rs129 billion to protect citizens. However, soaring global prices made a partial subsidy necessary. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved targeted relief measures, including Rs100 for motorcyclists and Rs1,500 per acre for farmers ahead of the harvesting season.
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The adviser also detailed support for transporters, with Rs70,000 to Rs80,000 for goods transporters and Rs100,000 for other transport operators. “We did this so fares would not increase, supporting the common man,” he said. Sanaullah emphasized that availability of petrol and diesel reflects government efforts amid the global crisis.
He criticized opposition figures for spreading misinformation and claimed some groups were exploiting the situation for political gains. Sanaullah urged citizens to unite, avoid protests against the government, and focus criticism on Israel, which initiated the war against Iran.
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Sanaullah concluded by warning of worsening energy and economic conditions if the conflict continues for months. He called on Pakistanis to stay resilient and support government measures to stabilize fuel supplies and prices during the crisis.