ISLAMABAD (National Times)- Criticising the PTI-led government for keeping the prices of petroleum products low artificially, PML-N senior leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that the past government made wrong decisions to garner cheap publicity.

Addressing a press conference, Shahid Khaqan said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had rejected the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s (OGRA) summary to increase petroleum prices as the government did not want to shift the burden to the masses during the holy month of Ramadan.

“The past government took wrong decisions for cheap popularity. It also intentionally created ambiguity about petroleum prices,” he added.

OGRA recommended to increase the price of high-speed diesel by Rs51, which would have taken the new price to Rs196 per litre, he said, adding that it recommended to increase petrol price from Rs150 to Rs171 per litre.

The former prime minister said that prices had been notified at the existing petroleum levy [which stands at zero] and GST [also at 0%]. But if taxes are included then the prices of high-speed diesel will have seen an increase of Rs120 per litre to jump to Rs265 per litre. Similarly, the petrol price would have soared to over Rs231, he added.

He said Imran Khan’s individual decisions had put the country in trouble.

“Petroleum prices are soaring globally but this has also been happening in the past. The real reason behind the hike in petrol and diesel prices in Pakistan is the devaluation of the Pakistani rupee,” he added.

Khaqan said the previous government’s wrong policies had a negative impact on the country’s economy and the agreements which were signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would be brought before the masses.