Petrol price hike: MP calls for free fuel

Manama : Bahrainis should be granted with a free 100 litres of gasoline every month to compensate them for the price hike of petrol, said Nabeel Al Balooshi MP yesterday.

“This proposal comes after the negative effects that the government’s decision to raise gasoline prices had on citizens. The decision harmed Bahrainis in the first place, especially those with low monthly incomes,” remarked Al Balooshi, who is also Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee Member. 

“Bahrainis are the first beneficiaries of gasoline subsidies and main consumers of petrol in the country. Hiking the prices was an additional burden for citizens,” he added.

As reported earlier, the government had announced that gasoline subsidies were scrapped and prices were increased by 60 per cent.

The sudden decision created a public outcry and MPs pledged to question Ministers and take action against them.

However, Energy Minister Dr. Abdulhussain Mirza had said, “The decision would contribute to addressing current fiscal challenges faced by Bahrain, as a result of the unprecedented drop in global oil prices, which has seen the price of oil per barrel decline by over 60pc.”