More relief: Govt to further cut fuel prices, says Rashid

Says government does not want to indulge in ‘politics of accusations’

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information Pervaiz Rashid on Tuesday said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would soon announce further reduction in fuel prices to pass on to people the benefit of decrease in petroleum prices in international market.

“The prime minister is now going to announce further decrease in prices of petroleum products,” Rashid said. He was addressing a press conference along with Minister of State for Privatisation Muhammad Zubair.

“The government has drastically reduced petroleum prices keeping the inflation rate in view, while the sit-ins and protests are causing huge loss to the national economy,” the minister said.



He said the government is pursuing the agenda of providing relief to the people, and does not want to indulge in the ‘politics of accusations’ being practised by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Rashid said the PTI chief Imran Khan did not realise the fact that he and his companions were violating the laws.

Talking about the PM’s recent visit to China, he said it was a successful tour, during which several agreements were signed for national development.

He said the country was moving towards economic stability due to the steps taken by the government, but the sit-ins had hindered the development process. “The country will once again continue its journey towards economic prosperity,” the minister added.

Replying to a question, Pervaiz Rashid said the PTI leader Jahangir Tareen, who, he claimed, was the main person funding the PTI’s ongoing campaign, had got his loans written off using political influence.

“Jahangir Tareen’s mills used to produce only 4,000 tons of sugar but they are now producing 60,000 tons of the commodity,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2014.