Hike in petroleum prices challenged in Lahore High Court

The increase in the prices of petroleum products, especially petrol, was challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday.
The 24NewsHD TV channel reported that citizen Munir Ahmed has challenged the petroleum prices in a miscellaneous application submitted to the LHC with a request to reverse the hike in the petroleum prices.
In the petition, it is stated that the prices of petroleum products at the international level have become low nowadays while the Pakistani government has increased these prices unconstitutionally.
The petitioner said that the government has increased the prices of petroleum products by nine rupees 66 paise which will enhance inflation more.
The petitioner also said that the increase in the prices of petroleum products is a violation of Articles 9, 14, 37 and 38 of the Constitution of Pakistan so the Court should issue an order to reverse it.
On March 31, the federal government announced a Rs9.66 per litre hike in petrol price for the next fortnight.
The new price of petrol is Rs289.41 per litre and according to the finance ministry, it would go into effect on April 1. The price of high-speed diesel (HSD) has dropped by Rs3.32 and the new rate is Rs282.24 per litre.
The government said the changes were due to a rise in petrol prices and a decrease in HSD prices in the international market, and the change was in line with the government’s policy of passing on price variations in the international market to the domestic market.