Pakistan's ongoing financial crisis has received a tiny silver lining with caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar slashing fuel prices and keeping them low for the second week in a row, reports said.
"Due to the declining trend of petroleum prices in the international market and the appreciation of the Pakistani rupee against the US dollar, the government has decided to revise the consumer prices of petroleum products," the media quoted government officials as saying.
The Ministry of Finance announced the decision late last night after receiving approval from the prime minister, they said, adding that this fixed the ex-depot price of petrol at Rs 283.38 per litre for the next two weeks, a reduction of Rs 40 per litre or 12.4 per cent.
The price of petrol was reduced by 40 rupees per litre, while the price of High Speed Diesel (HSD) was reduced by 15 rupees per litre. The price of kerosene has also been reduced.
The government's decision would be really helpful for the common people, the reports suggested, saying the government's decision would help people who use private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers.
Between 15 August and 15 September, the prices of petrol and high speed diesel were reportedly increased by Rs 58.43 and Rs 55.83 per litre respectively.