ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered the governments of all four provinces on Saturday to ensure that the benefits of a substantial cut in petroleum prices were passed on to the public at large and directed that transport fares and commodity prices should be lowered with immediate effect.

The premier wrote to the four chief ministers, saying that the federal government had provided the public with an opportunity of relief and provincial governments must ensure the delivery of the full range of benefits from this price cut to people.

“The country is on the path to economic recovery. The price reduction should now translate into better relief measures for citizens,” he said.

Over the past eight months, the prices of petroleum products had reduced significantly. The overall decrease in petrol prices since March 2014 was Rs18.57, while in case of high-speed diesel and low-speed diesel, it had been Rs15.54 and Rs16.85 respectively.

The role of provincial governments in ensuring that these benefits are passed on to the people is crucial and the public expected a reduction in the fares of urban, inter-city transport and goods, as well as the lowering of prices of all commodities.

The PM asked all four chief ministers to take a personal interest in the issue so as to provide immediate relief to the public.

PTI claims credit

Meanwhile, a statement issued by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari claimed credit for the reduction of prices of petroleum products, adding that the successful sit-ins were already pushing the government to taking back some of its exploitative policies.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan had consistently demanded a reduction in petroleum prices in view of a global decline in prices.

Ms Mazari said that even now, the government had not reduced oil prices to match the global decrease. She said that Mr Khan had demanded that petrol prices be reduced by Rs15, not Rs9.

She also said that the PTI stood vindicated on the issue of inflated electricity bills, as government auditors reported 31 per cent overbilling. Buckling under PTI pressure, the government was considering paying back consumers but had not moved on it so far. The PTI is also party to court case on the matter, which is pending before the Islamabad High Court.

But Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid blamed the protesting PTI for keeping citizens from enjoying the full benefits of this relief.

Talking to reporters after a function at the National Press Club on Saturday, he said that the PTI’s protest had driven the value of the rupee into the ground.

On Aug 13, when the PTI started its long march, the dollar price was around Rs98, but it had crossed the Rs100 mark again.

The minister called on Mr Khan to announce some relief for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the announcement by the federal government.

NHA Briefing

Also on Saturday, the prime minister was informed by the National Highways Authority that the construction of the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway would start in the last week of December, while the groundbreaking of the E-35 Burhan-Havelian Motorway would be carried out in the last week of November.

Mr Sharif said during the tenure of PML-N government major infrastructure projects would be completed, including motorways which would improve communication across the country.

He ordered that work on Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway and Khanewal-Lahore Motorway should be completed as soon as possible without compromising on the issues of transparency and international standards.

He also directed that a good road may be built to connect Okara and Bahawalpur with Karachi-Lahore Motorway.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd , 2014