The Ministry of Finance announced a late-night reduction of Rs 4.74 per liter in petrol and Rs 3.86 per liter in diesel prices, following reports of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directive for a substantial decrease. However, the PM Office later retracted this announcement, causing confusion.
Initially, state broadcaster PTV reported that PM Shahbaz Sharif had directed a Rs 15.40 per liter decrease in petrol and Rs 7.90 per liter in diesel prices. The actual reduction fell short, leading to speculation that the Petroleum Division had ignored the PM’s directive, opting for a minimal cut.
The original post on PTV’s “X” account about the PM’s directive was deleted, replaced by a clarification stating that the mentioned reduction referred to the previous month’s prices. Additionally, it noted a further reduction in LPG prices.
Similarly, the Prime Minister’s Office removed its tweet announcing the petroleum price cuts, which initially credited the government’s people-centric policies for the decrease.
In summary, initial confusion arose from misinterpreted announcements, prompting corrections and clarifications to accurately convey the extent of the price reductions and avoid misleading the public.
