Hike in gas tariff only burden on elite class not poor: Asad Umar

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Rejecting the opposition leader allegations, Minister for Finance Asad Umar said on Monday that the government decision to increase the gas prices only put the burden on elite class not for the poor. Addressing to the National Assembly session, the minister defended the government decision of hiking prices of gas, saying that the gas prices increased 10 per cent to 143 per cent but not effect on the poor or domestic users. Asad Umer responded the speech of Shehbaz Sharif, saying that the prices of natural gas have increased drastically in past few months so the government has only shifted the burden on elite class not middle class or poor people of the society. “The subsidy worth Six to seven billion rupees will be allotted to the farmers for their relief in the budget,” he explained. He said that Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority – In its summary – had recommended a 46 per-cent increase in gas tariff citing Rs154billion in losses. “The fall of rupee and increase in energy prices in the international market in last 15 months is more than 50 percent,” said Asad Umar. The minister said that instead of former finance minister Ishaq Dar spoke about for taking two billion rupees. He also said that the tax has been imposed only on the elite or rich class people, adding that no government had taken such huge amount of debt in the history of Pakistan as the previous five years tenure got the loans. Asad Umar took a jibe on the PML-N led government and said that the circular debt of the country has been reached worth of twelve hundred billion of rupees. Criticizing the previous government, he said that the economy crisis prevailed everywhere due to the PML-N government.