ISLAMABAD, September 17: Gas prices in the country were increased by up to 143 per cent, Petroleum Minister Ghullam Sarwar announced on Monday.
Petroleum Minister Ghulam Sarwar said the majority of gas consumers would be subjected to a maximum 20 per cent increase, while consumers using over 500 cubic meters would see an increase of up to 143 per cent.
“We have only approved an increase of Rs23 in the total gas bill for the common man,” he said while addressing a joint press conference with Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry. “Both Sui Southern Gas Company and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited were in profit before the PML-N government came to power in 2013. Now, they have left with both companies operating with a deficit of Rs152 billion rupees,” the petroleum minister said. The new measures would inject “58 billion rupees to stabilise the two companies”, Sarwar added.
The petroleum minister informed reporters that only 23 per cent of the country’s population was using the gas network.
“There were previously three slabs which have been increased to seven. Further, we have divided them among lower middle class, middle class and upper class,” Sarwar said. -Agencies
