Technocrats at the Petroleum Division had this time tried to pass on increase in prices for domestic consumers by increasing gas prices for power generation plants rather than directly increasing gas prices for domestic consumers. The Petroleum Division had also proposed to increase minimum monthly gas charges and meter rent. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Nadeem Baber had earlier said there would not be any increase in gas prices for the domestic consumers. The new proposed increase was aimed at collecting additional Rs28 billion from the gas consumers, Rs6 billion less than original proposal. The Petroleum Division had also proposed to the ECC to increase the gas prices for commercial, cement and general industry by 5% and for power sector by 15%.

Source: The Express Tribune February 05, 2020 04:35 UTC