Argument: Court requested to set petrol prices at Rs30 a litre

LAHORE:

Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday sought a report from the federal government to explain why it did not follow recommendations of the Oil and Gas Regularly Authority (OGRA) with regard to reduction in petroleum prices.

The judge directed the government to file a reply until March 16.

Advocate Malik Munsif Awan, the head of Justice Party, had moved the petition submitting that the prices of petrol should not exceed Rs30 a litre even with the adding of income and allied taxes.

He said the fuel was being sold for Rs71.25 a litre which he said was much higher compared to the international market. He said the federal government had no authority to fix the petroleum prices in view of the OGRA Ordinance, 2002. He requested the court to direct the government to fix the price at Rs30 a litre in line with the international market rates.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2016.