ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has decided to follow the past practice that allows prime minister to continue to be the final decision-making authority on changes to the prices and taxes on petroleum products.
Chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the cabinet also decided not to change the prices of petroleum products for the month of September 2016.
On Aug 18, the Supreme Court had ruled that the prime minister could not move any legislation, finance/fiscal bill or approve any budgetary or discretionary expenditure on his own, without taking the cabinet into confidence.
However, announcing the decisions reached in the cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told reporters that though the government would continue to comply with the apex court’s order, it would be filing for a review of this decision.
He said the cabinet had not only confirmed the changes made to the rate of sales tax on petroleum products in the past, but also restored the “past practice” of making changes in oil prices.
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