Govt not purchasing cheap petrol from Russia as it is afraid of US: Shaukat Tarin

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Former finance minister Shaukat Tarin has said that the government is not purchasing cheap petrol from Russia because it is afraid of the United States.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the petrol prices have reduced in the international market. "The people should be given a relief. There was no shortfall in our tenure and from where it came now," he added.

He feared that the inflation could reach 40 percent. "The 14-year-old record of inflation has broken. No one is ready to give money to this government," he maintained.

Shaukat Tarin said that the PTI had launched the programmes for the poor and the middle class and the incumbent government had closed them.

"Presently 4-8 hours loadshedding is being observed in the cities. To the contrary, the prime minister had stated that no shutdown would be observed from May 1," he added.

He said that loadshedding would continue as the power plant are lying closed.

"Presently, textile, auto mobiles and oil industries were closing while exports are on the decline. The super tax has been imposed on the 13 industries. The salaries class has been burdened with Rs80 billion. The large-scale manufacturing has declined by 13 percent. The prices of diesel and fertilizers have been increased by 100 percent," he concluded.