The federal government may keep its petrol subsidy programme in place for as long as 10 months if continued support is considered necessary for consumers, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik has said.
Speaking in Lahore, the minister said the government is currently spending between Rs. 35 billion and Rs. 40 billion every month on the subsidy programme. More than six million people have reportedly registered for the scheme, highlighting the scale of the initiative aimed at providing financial relief to petrol consumers.
Malik said the government would continue to assess international oil prices and would pass on any reduction in global petroleum prices to consumers. The move could provide some relief to motorists if international crude prices decline.
The minister also addressed concerns about the availability of petrol in the country. He said there would be no petrol shortage and that authorities were monitoring fuel supplies to ensure sufficient stocks remain available across Pakistan.
Malik further clarified his earlier comments regarding petrol prices potentially reaching Rs. 1,000 per litre. According to the minister, those remarks had been taken out of context and were not intended as a prediction of an actual petrol price.
The government’s subsidy programme comes as households and businesses continue to closely monitor fuel prices because of their impact on transportation and the cost of goods and services.
Officials are expected to continue reviewing international oil prices, domestic fuel supplies and the financial cost of the subsidy before deciding how long the relief programme will remain in place.
