Petrol down by Re0.34 per litre, diesel by Rs4.51

ISLAMABAD: The government has reduced the prices of petroleum products with petrol going down by Re0.34 per litre, diesel Rs4.51 per litre and kerosene Rs3.8 per litre.

The overall reduction in the POL prises is up to Rs4.51 per litre from today (May 1, 2014) after accepting the recommendations of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra).

In line with Ogra’s recommendations, this time the government has decreased the price of petrol by only Re0.34 per litre, which is nominal. While the dollar has depreciated against the Pak rupee, even then consumers will not get the required relief because of the fact that the price of petrol has surged to a reasonable level in the global market and this has deprived the consumers of petrol from the Rs1.20 per litre relief.

However, the government has substantially reduced the price of High Speed Diesel, which will provide a reasonable solace to the masses as most of the transportation of all kinds of goods, including kitchen items, takes place on diesel-run vehicles. The tumbling in the price of diesel will help reduce the prices of daily use items.

The price of kerosene has been decreased by Rs3.8 per litre, Light Diesel Oil Re0.94 per litre and High Octane Blending Component (HOBC) Rs1.94 per litre.

This means that the new price of petrol (motor gasoline) will be at Rs107.97 per litre from (today) May 1, 2014, High Speed Diesel Rs109.34 per litre, Light Diesel Oil Rs94.13 per litre and Kerosene Rs98.07 per litre.

According to a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar called on Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in London. The finance minister briefed the prime minister on the cumulative reduction in the POL prices in the last three

months and told him that the economic policies, stabilization in the value of rupee and an increase in the foreign exchange reserves had stimulated the recent reduction in the POL prices.

The prime minister directed the finance minister that benefits of the strong economy should reach the common man. The finance minister suggested a reduction in the POL prices after consultation with the Ogra and the Ministry of Petroleum and the prime minister approved a reduction in the POL prices.

The Nawaz government, during March-May 2014 period, reduced the petrol price by Rs4.71 per litre, diesel by Rs7.41 and kerosene by Rs8.69 per litre.

Armed forces running 33 petrol pumps, 62 shopping centres

RAWALPINDI: The National Assembly was told on Wednesday that in certain cantonment areas of the country, the Pakistan armed forces were running at least 33 petrol pumps and 62 shopping centres and markets.

In response to a question by Beelum Hasnain, the defence ministry submitted a written reply to the assembly in which it also mentioned that 54 schools were also operational under the armed forces in the cantonment areas.

According to the details provided by the ministry, there were three petrol pumps of the armed forces, one shopping centre in the Sargodha Circle, two petrol pumps, one shopping centre, 14 schools in the Multan Circle, four petrol pumps, 35 shopping centres, 13 schools in the Lahore Circle, seven petrol pumps, three shopping centres, two schools in the Gujranwala Circle, three petrol pumps and two shopping centres in the Hyderabad Circle, two petrol pumps, seven shopping centres, three schools in the Karachi Circle, seven petrol pumps, six shopping centres, five schools in the Rawalpindi Circle and five petrol pumps, seven shopping centres and 17 schools in the Abbottabad Circle.

In its written reply, the defence ministry did not show the income from these petrol pumps, shopping centres and schools. Also it did not inform the House whether this amount had been submitted to the national kitty or not.

However, it has been mentioned in the reply that the relevant board of officers was drawing an estimate of the total income. After such an estimate was made, the respective details will be submitted to the House.

The defence ministry is of the view that the largest number of shopping centres and markets are situated in the Lahore Circle. This number is found to be 35. Moreover, the largest number of petrol pumps are located in Gujranwala and Rawalpindi circles. There are seven petrol pumps in each of these circles.

In the cantonment areas of the militancy-hit capital of Balochistan i.e. Quetta, there are seven shopping centres of the armed forces, while in the Abbottabad Circle and Rawalpindi Circle, there are seven and six shopping centres respectively.

Most of the schools are located in the Abbottabad Circle. Their number is 17.It is pertinent to mention here that the reply covers only the details of businesses run by the armed forces in the country’s cantonment areas. Armed forces and institutions such as Rangers also run petrol pumps, bakeries and general stores in areas other than cantonment, the details of which have not been given in the defence ministry’s written reply.