Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance Salman Shah has said that after announcing marginal increase in the prices of certain petroleum products, the government still has to bear a fortnightly burden of Rs 1.5 billion. "We have tried to bear the burden to a considerable level but we have to maintain balance in the budget between developmental and other expenditures," Salman told Voice of America.
He said the government had been trying its best to transfer minimum impact of international price, hike in oil, and subsidy worth Rs 60 billion was given in that regard. If the government kept absorbing the oil price impact, it would not be possible to carry on with development activities, he added.
He said while increasing the prices of petroleum products, the government had tried to secure the interest of common people, adding the increase in the price of kerosene oil and diesel was not allowed.
He said other measures included import of meat and vegetables from neighbouring countries, adding within two weeks the supply of those items would reach the country and their prices would come down.