Shibli asks masses to use less fuel to combat hike

Minister says life cannot be normal during tough times

ISLAMABAD:

As the spending power of consumers takes another beating following a fresh fuel hike, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz has advised the people to use "as little fuel as possible” to combat surging prices.

Speaking to journalists at the Parliament House, the minister said the scenario would have been different had the country been producing its own oil and had oil wells, emphasising that "life cannot be normal during these tough times as inflation and Covid-19 are global issues”.

Read: Petroleum products prices break all records

“The prices of the fuel in the international market have gone up to $95,” he said. The government has not imposed taxes on the fuel prices in a bid to give relief to the masses, he added. “Our government’s priority is to subsidise food and drinks,” he added.

He said that the Ministry of Science is trying to reduce electricity consumption, as “it will allow the government to minimise the import of oil”.

The government had on Tuesday notified an unprecedented increase in the prices of all petroleum products by up to Rs10 to Rs12 per litre for the next fortnight ending on Feb 28 "to pass on the impact of higher international oil prices" and application of additional petroleum levy, as committed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Speaking about the electronic voting machines (EVMs) during interaction with media on Wednesday, the minister said, "We have proved that we can make EVMs and we have made them".

"The opposition was spreading propaganda that the government has brought its own machine. We have no machine," he stated, adding that the government's goal was to bring transparency in the elections.