LHC issues notices to OGRA, govt on hike in petroleum prices

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued notices to the federal government, Oil and Gas Regulator Authority (OGRA) and others on a petition challenging the recent hike in prices of petroleum products.

A two-judge bench of the LHC, headed by Justice Shahid Waheed, heard the petition. After a preliminary hearing, the court issued notices to the official respondents to file their response to the petition by next hearing.

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The petitioner stated before the court that more burden has been put on a common man who is already reeling from rising inflation, requesting the bench to declare the government’s move to jack up fuel prices as illegal.

The federal government increased the price of petrol by up to Rs2.70 per litre for the next 15 days of February, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance.

Also Read: Govt hikes petrol price by Rs2.70 per litre

The prime minister approved Rs2.70 per litre increase in the price of petrol and Rs2.88 per litre in that of diesel. The price of kerosene oil is increased up to Rs3.54 per litre while that of light diesel was jacked up to Rs3 per litre.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Friday had proposed Rs12 per litre hike in petrol price from February 1. The OGRA had proposed raising Rs10 per litre on high-speed diesel.