PM Shehbaz rejects price hike for petrol, high-speed diesel in address

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif rejected a proposal for increasing petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices on Friday, during his address to the nation ahead of Eidul Fitr. He began the speech by extending Eid greetings and emphasized humanity, national unity, and collective responsibility. The premier highlighted the global crisis caused by the war in the Middle East, which has severely impacted peace, economy, and common people. Oil prices from the region have surged from $72 to $158 per barrel within three weeks, according to Sharif. He warned of potential further fuel price hikes if the situation worsened. The earlier increase in petrol and HSD by Rs55 per litre in March had adversely affected citizens’ lives, he noted.