ISLAMABAD: Senior PPP leader Syed Naveed Qamar on Monday urged the government not to shift the full impact of rising global oil prices onto the public.
Speaking in the National Assembly, he said international oil prices had recently increased due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, which had disrupted oil supplies in the region.
Qamar said Iran had taken steps that affected the movement of oil tankers and cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, limiting the supply of oil to global markets, particularly to Asian countries. He added that some oil-producing countries in the Gulf had also started reducing production because shipping disruptions were making exports difficult.
He said the rise in global oil prices was understandable in the current circumstances.
The PPP leader pointed out the recent increase of Rs 55 per litre by the government, adding that the global oil prices were still around $90 per barrel.
He expressed concern that with Brent crude recently reaching around $120 per barrel, the fuel prices could rise further.
Referring to Pakistan’s programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he urged the authorities to engage with the IMF in order to minimize the impact of petrol prices on public.