PPP criticism on petroleum prices unjustified: Miftah Ismail

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail on Tuesday said that the criticism by Pakistan People Party leadership on petroleum prices is unjustified.

He said that the prices of petroleum products, even after the recent raise, are still lower than those during the PPP era, and that the level of taxation on these products in most cases is also lower than that prevalent during the government of the PPP.

He recalled that the petrol price in March 2013 was Rs. 106.60, Diesel Rs. 113.56, kerosene at Rs.103.69 and Light Diesel Oil was Rs. 98.26.

Despite the consistent increase in international oil prices during the last year, the prices are still considerably less than those levels set in the PPP days, he stated.

He further said that Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) government brought about a huge change in the economic conditions of the country, and things would have been even better if the opposition, including PPP and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, had cooperated instead of creating hurdles in the way of economic development of the country.