LAHORE: The fresh increase in the petroleum products prices by the government has been challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday.
The petition, filed by Advocate Azhar Siddique said that the federal government increased the prices of petroleum products without the approval of the federal cabinet.
The petitioner pleaded with the court to reject the order on the hike.Ā
It may be recalled that the coalition government on Thursday dropped another oil bomb as it increased the prices by up to Rs18.83 per litre on account of the petroleum levy on these products.
Earlier, the government had been charging zero petroleum levy and general sales tax on petroleum products to absorb the impact of the hike in global oil prices and depreciation of the rupee against the dollar.
The government increased the price of petrol by Rs14.85 per litre, from Rs233.89 to Rs248.74 per litre.
High-speed diesel (HSD) has been upped by Rs13.23 per litre, from Rs 263.31 to Rs276.54.
Kerosene oil has been jacked up the most, from Rs18.83 per litre to Rs230.26 from Rs211.43 per litre.
This was followed by low diesel oil (LDO), with its price being increased by Rs 18.68 per litre to Rs226.15 from Rs207.47.
The government has imposed an Rs10 per litre petroleum levy on petrol, Rs5 per litre on HSD, Rs5 per litre on kerosene oil and Rs5 per litre on LDO.
The present government is already facing criticism due to its massive hike in oil prices after it came to power. Ā
