Nawaz urges CMs to pass on benefits from reduced petroleum prices on to the public

PM says petroleum prices were reduced significantly in past eight months, coupled with reduction announced October 31

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday directed provincial governments to pass on the benefits of substantial reduction in prices of petroleum products on to the public, particularly by lowering fares of transport and prices of commodities, an official handout stated.

In a letter addressed to the chief ministers of all provinces, the premier said the federal government had provided an opportunity for affording public relief and provincial governments had to ensure the actual delivery of the full range of benefits to people.

"Thi‎s should now translate into better relief measures for the citizens of Pakistan," he said.

The prime minister added that the country was on the path of economic recovery.

Nawaz further said the prices of petroleum products had been reduced significantly in the past eight months – coupled with the substantial reduction announced on October 31.

He said the cumulative decrease in petroleum prices since March 2014 was Rs18.57, while in the case of ‎HSD and LSD, it was Rs15.54 and Rs16.85 respectively.

“The benefits of transportation resulting from a cheaper cost of petroleum products now has to be passed on to the people ‎of the country,” he said, adding that the role of provincial governments in this regard was crucial, and the public expects a reduction in the fares of urban, inter-city transport and the transport of goods.

The letters sent to the chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan can be viewed below: