As their parting gift, before they left, Caretakers have increased gas prices again to comply with the IMF (International Monetary Fund). Rationalizing gas prices is the right move to end the growth of the gas circular debt, as the last round of hike price was not enough. There is a socioeconomic limit to the increase in the residential segment where the increase is ranging from 5 to 67 percent in various slabs with a higher impact to be felt on the lower income groups.

The prices for the commercial segment were already high and there is no change there while the prices of bulk consumers are raised again. However, the above-mentioned increases in prices have not been enough to end the circular debt growth; hence the prices for industries and fertilizer manufacturers had to be increased as well.

However, the industry is losing competitiveness and cannot take any further burden of cross subsidy. Hence, the increase is mainly for captive users, and the discrimination of exporting and non-exporting sector has ended. That is a good move.

To balance the equation, the principal decision is to have uniform pricing for fertilizer manufacturers........

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