[Pak Daily Times] The PML-N government appears to be in extra hurry to put the economy on 'right track' as it implemented the 1% increase in GST just a day after the announcement of federal budget for 2013-14, even without waiting for the parliament to pass the budgetary proposals to give it a legal status.Prices of petroleum products and the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) increased on Thursday after implementation of the new GST tariff, sparking a wave of immediate surge in the prices of edibles and daily-use items across the country.
The petrol price was hiked by 86 paisas per litre; light diesel oil by 77 paisas and high speed diesel by 90 paisas per following an increase in the GST.
The new rates are effective from midnight Thursday.
After the increase, new price of petrol has been set at Rs100.63; that of diesel at Rs105.50, light diesel oil at Rs 89.90 and of kerosene oil at Rs 94.59. The government has also increased the prices of compressed natural gas (CNG) by 45 paisas per kilogramme. The new prices of CNG are applicable to Region 1 and Region 2.
Transporters in several cities instantly announced an in crease in inter-city fares.
The newly elected heavy-mandate government's first budget has been branded as 'business-friendly' by most the business community and industrialists while the common man has termed it from 'cruel' to 'anti-poor'.