PM announces Rs 5 relief despite global oil price plunge

• Nawaz says govt transferring benefits of economic development to the masses, says load shedding has reduced while the industrial sector is also back on track
• Says Karachi has witnessed n improvement in law and order therefore Rangers would stay in mega city until complete restoration of peace there

As global oil prices hover at the lowest recorded levels since 2003, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday announced a Rs 5 per litre cut in petroleum product prices with effect from February 1.

“It is my pleasure to announce that petrol and diesel prices have been further reduced by Rs 5 per litre,” he said while talking to the media outside the residence of Dunya Media Group Chairman Mian Amer Mahmood after condoling with him over the death of his father.

It may be added that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Friday forwarded a summary to the Ministry of Finance recommending a reduction in the prices of by Rs 7.56, high-speed diesel and high octane by Rs 10.15 and kerosene oil by Rs 8.17 from February 1.

International oil prices rose on Friday, rebounding more than 25 per cent from 12-year lows hit last week and cutting losses for the month, on prospects of a deal between major exporters to cut production and curb one of the biggest supply gluts in history.

The oil market rallied for four straight sessions after a renewed call from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for joint efforts with rival producers to cut supply triggered a volley of comments from Russia on a deal with the cartel, something it had been refusing to do for 15 years.

Brent March futures LCOc1, which expired on Friday, closed at $34.74 a barrel, 85 cents or 2.5 per cent higher. On Jan. 20, it hit $27.10, its lowest since November 2003.

Addressing the reporters, the prime minister said the government was transferring the benefits of economic development to the masses. Load shedding has reduced while the industrial sector was back on the track, he added.

He said the world has even acknowledged the economic gains made by the country. Foreign reserves had increased to about $21 billion from $2 to $3 billion before 2013.

Not only has the rate of inflation decreased, but also, there has been a drastic fall in the level of corruption, he claimed.

Nawaz said the country was going through an economic breakthrough as foreign investments had increased.

Regarding the country’s security situation, the prime minister said by their recent attacks, the terrorists wanted to show that were still powerful, which was not in fact true. Their back had been broken and Zarb-e-Azb was proof. The operation (in South Waziristan) was yielding positive results, due to which the overall number of terror incidents had reduced in the country.

The terrorists were carrying out isolated acts to make their presence felt, however, they would also be eliminated, he added and emphasised the need for accelerating the implementation of some clauses of the National Action Plan.

Nawaz said that Pakistan was more peaceful and prosperous today as compared to 2013.

He said that Karachi had witnessed n improvement in law and order. Rangers would stay in the mega city until the complete restoration of peace there, he added.

Replying to a question, he said matters between Pakistan and India were moving in the right direction. The Pathankot incident, he regretted, disturbed the dialogue process between the two countries.

Pakistan would not allow anyone to use its soil against any other country, he added.

Regarding Pakistan’s role as a mediator in the ongoing Saudi-Iran rift, Nawaz Sharif said that it was Pakistan’s own initiative to help defuse tension between the two countries. He urged Saudi Arabia and Iran to mutually remove their reservations.