Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik defended the government’s approach to maintain current fuel prices, emphasizing that the prices in Pakistan remain lower than those in neighboring countries, and the freeze supports the development priorities in Balochistan.
In a televised address on state-run PTV, Malik explained that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had made the “difficult decision” to withhold a proposed reduction in petrol prices in order to allocate funds for critical infrastructure projects in Balochistan, including the upgrading of the N-25 highway, which connects Chaman to the interior of the province.
“Even today, the prices of petroleum products in Pakistan are lower than in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal,” Malik stated. He added that under the current government, petrol and diesel prices had been reduced by Rs30 to Rs40 per litre since taking office.
Malik urged the public to accept the price freeze as a “small inconvenience” for the sake of long-term national development, particularly in underdeveloped areas such as Balochistan.
He reiterated that the Prime Minister’s economic vision focuses on inclusive and sustainable growth for all regions of the country.
The minister also pointed to positive signs of economic recovery, citing inflation’s decrease to below 1%. “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has alleviated your hardship by curbing inflation,” he added, underlining the government’s efforts to stabilize the economy while pursuing development in the country’s most neglected regions.
