Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb on Thursday said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had decided against increasing the prices of petroleum products.

The minister said that the prime minister had rejected the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s (Ogra) summary seeking hike in prices of petroleum products.

She said that prices will remain unchanged for the coming month, adding that the government could not punish people for “the incompetence and mistakes of the past government”.

“We want to ensure that there is no extra burden on the people already struggling with inflation,” she added.

Miftah and IMF

Earlier this week, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail categorically ruled out any increase in the prices of petroleum products before May 1. He stressed that the current government’s priorities included the revival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, preparation of the budget for next year, and stabilisation of the economy.

“There is no chance that we will raise prices before the 1st (of May),” said Ismail. “If prices are raised on the 1st, there are a lot of considerations including the summary of the regulator – Ogra – and the fact that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will ask me, ’what have you done for the poor-income group?”