In a statement, the Prime Minister said the move fulfilled his promise to the nation. “Providing relief to the people is one of my top priorities,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s Office said the government had continued to provide relief even under difficult circumstances, including last week, by subsidising fuel.

The office added that while queues formed for petrol in other countries in the region, Pakistan took timely steps to prevent price hikes, providing a subsidy of more than Rs130 and relief to the public.