Petrol price could surge to Rs1,000 per litre: Petroleum Minister

Petrol price could surge to Rs1,000 per litre: Petroleum Minister

Federal Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik has warned that petrol prices could rise to Rs1,000 per litre if the country faces a severe fuel shortage, while assuring the public that Pakistan currently has sufficient petrol supplies.

The minister made the remarks while speaking to the media after offering condolences to the family of PML-N worker Mian Amir Altaf at his residence in Baghbanpura, Lahore.

Ali Pervaiz Malik said there was no petrol shortage in the country at present. However, he cautioned that a disruption in supplies could lead to a dramatic increase in fuel prices, potentially pushing the cost of petrol to Rs1,000 per litre.

Responding to the Jamaat-e-Islami’s ongoing protests against the petroleum levy, the minister urged the party to refrain from exploiting public hardships for political purposes. He said the government was facing significant challenges and had already briefed a Jamaat-e-Islami delegation about the situation.

The minister also revealed that authorities issued fuel-related tokens worth Rs180 million in a single day, although he did not provide further details about the nature of these tokens.

Defending the government’s approach to fuel pricing, Ali Pervaiz Malik said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had taken steps to shield the public from the full impact of rising international oil prices. He claimed that global oil prices had increased by 80 per cent, while petrol prices in Pakistan had risen by approximately 50 per cent.

Commenting on political tensions, the petroleum minister urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters not to put other people’s children at risk in their opposition to the government. He warned that the authorities would not allow anyone to march on Islamabad in a manner that threatened public order.

Discussing the country’s energy requirements, Ali Pervaiz Malik assured citizens that the government would take steps to prevent gas shortages during the winter. He said Pakistan could increase its gas imports substantially, even if it had to spend $100 million instead of $3 million to meet domestic demand.

The minister further stated that the government would discuss the future of the local government system and the creation of new administrative units in the provincial and national assemblies.

When asked about the reported detention of Aleema Khan, the sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, Ali Pervaiz Malik said he was unaware of the matter.