The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has approved the hike in gas prices for consumers across the country. Ogra has approved rate hikes for Sui Southern and Sui Northern, with an average increase of 50 per cent in gas prices for Sui Northern and 45 per cent for Sui Southern. An increase of Rs 415 per mmbtu in average gas price for Sui Northern and Rs 417 23 paise per mmbtu in average gas price for Sui Southern was approved. It has been approved to fix the average price of gas on Sui Northern at Rs 1238 68 paise mmbtu and on Sui Southern at Rs 1350 per mmbtu. The final decision on the increase will be made by the federal government. According to the law, a final decision on the price hike must be taken within 45 days. According to the sources, if the federal government does not take any decision, the decision will be implemented automatically after 45 days. The increase should be considered to be practically applicable. Recently, a fixed amount of five hundred rupees has also been collected from the consumers on the gas meters and now the gas prices are going to increase due to all the federal and its subsidiaries. I don’t know how long this process of putting the burden on the shoulders of the people will continue. All the magic of the Finance Minister, who is called an economic magician, has been limited to withdrawing money from the people’s pockets. Now the burden of further delay in matters from the IMF is on the people. It will be transferred. Previously, the pressure of the IMF has been shown for every increase, now there has been almost a stagnation in the affairs. The newcomer is playing the role of a shroud thief more than the previous one. I don’t know how long this series will last and whether the people will be able to live or not. In this situation, it would be futile to advise the government not to approve the increase.
