ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Murtaza Solangi, emphasized the need to refrain from speculating about petroleum prices products.
He took to X to post a news story link on the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), making a call to people to discourage speculations regarding petroleum prices.
I did not hint at what is reported below. It will help both @dawn_com and @KhaleeqKiani to listen to the question asked of me and my complete answer before making any conclusion about it.
Here is what you folks reported.“Interestingly, the hints at price reductions were made…
— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) September 26, 2023
Minister Solangi, in his post, stated that he didn’t imply what was reported. Furthermore, during a press conference where he was questioned about the possibility of an increase in petroleum prices, he clearly explained that these prices are primarily influenced by international market rates and the exchange rate between the dollar and the rupee.
OGRA’s Hold Authority to Announce Change in Petroleum Prices
He clarified that on the same day, he did mention a published report that suggested the possibility of a price reduction without specifying if it was imminent. Murtaza Solangi emphasized that OGRA holds the exclusive authority to announce changes in petroleum product prices. He underlined that his remarks did not allude to what was reported in a national English daily. He encouraged both the newspaper and Khaleeq Kiani to carefully review the question posed to him and his complete response before drawing conclusions.
Furthermore, Minister Solangi shared a paragraph from the news report, which stated, “Interestingly, hints of price reductions were made by the caretaker Commerce Minister Gohar Ijaz and Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, both of whom have no role in determining the prices.”
