LHC seeks, Govt reply over hike in prices of petroleum products

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) summoned reply from the federal government, the Petroleum Ministry and the OGRA over recent hike in petroleum prices, ARY News reported on Thursday.

A division bench of the high court headed by Justice Abid Aziz Shaikh heard a petition challenging the increase in the prices of petroleum products.

The petitioner earlier argued that the petrol prices have been increased without an approval from the federal cabinet and called the price hike unconstitutional.

The Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), federal government and other concerned have been made party in the case.

The bench adjourned further hearing of the case till November 22.

The government on last Friday jacked up the prices of petrol and diesel by more than Rs eight per litre.

According to a notification issued by the Finance Division, the price of petrol has been hiked by Rs 8.03 to Rs 145.82 per litre while that of high-speed diesel by Rs 8.14 to Rs 142.62 per litre.

A two-member bench of the LHC on last Thursday asked the government to apprise the court regarding the procedure of fixing the prices of petroleum products in the country.

The court had also issued a notice to the Attorney General of Pakistan.

The petitioner stated that there was no procedure to fix the prices of petroleum products in the country while the government is receiving 17 per cent sales tax.

The petitioner further stated that the government’s imposition of sales tax on essential items was a violation of the Constitution.