LAHORE (The COW News Digital ) Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik warned that petrol prices could surge to Rs1,000 per liter if a severe supply shortage occurs in Pakistan, though he assured that current fuel stocks remain stable.
Speaking to journalists in Lahore, Malik explained that international crude prices have jumped by 80% due to surging costs across European and American markets. However, he highlighted that the domestic price adjustment was restricted to 50%, stating that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stepped in to cushion citizens from the full impact of global market volatility.
Addressing winter energy planning, the petroleum minister pledged that the government will ensure uninterrupted gas supply to households, even if LNG import expenditures rise from $3 million to $100 million. He further announced that exploration work at domestic energy wells has commenced, with new oil discoveries anticipated during October.
Malik criticized opposition political maneuvers, calling on Jamaat-e-Islami to refrain from exploiting public hardships and urging Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to stop using citizens for political confrontation. He firmly stated that the administration will not permit anyone to storm Islamabad.
Regarding domestic political developments, the minister noted that he had no prior knowledge of Aleema Khan’s detention, while emphasizing that debates on local government reforms and administrative units should occur within parliament.
