LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday issued notices to the federal government, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) and other authorities on a petition challenging a daily increase in petroleum product prices.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh heard the petition filed by the Judicial Activism Panel (JAP).
Advocate Azhar Siddique, representing the petitioner, argued that petroleum prices had increased globally, but Pakistan had witnessed a disproportionately high increase.
He claimed that the petroleum product prices in Pakistan had been increased by 46 per cent, which was not in line with the increase in other regional countries.
He pointed out that the authorities had so far failed to present any mechanism for determining the increase in petroleum prices and remained unclear on what basis such a substantial increase was being made.
The counsel argued that the practice of fixing petroleum prices on a daily basis was not in accordance with the law. He asked the court to order the respondent authorities to present the mechanism and criteria being followed for determining petroleum product prices.
The bench issued notices to the federal government, Ogra and other respondents, for submission of their replies within a fortnight.