Posts falsely claim Pakistan TV channel reported petrol price drop as power crisis bites
- This article is more than one year old.
- Published on July 5, 2022 at 08:49
- 2 min read
- By AFP Pakistan
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A 31-minute long Geo News report was shared here on Facebook on June 28.
The clip was viewed more than 42,000 times alongside an Urdu-language caption that translates as: "Petrol is now 100 rupees (49 cents) per litre."
At the time, the prices of petrol products ranged from 200 to 260 rupees.
Pakistan is in the midst of a dire economic crisis, with runaway inflation, a depleted rupee and dwindling foreign exchange reserves hampering energy imports.
A similar claim was shared on Facebook here and here.
Many Facebook users believed the claim in the post and criticised Geo News for purportedly reporting that petrol prices have decreased.
"Very stuiped chanel [sic]", one wrote in the comments.
Another said: "This television channel is the enemy of Pakistan.... for the last 15 days Geo and Samaa [television channel] are saying that petrol has become cheaper, but at petrol pumps the price is the same."
No price reduction
However, there is no mention of a decrease in petrol prices in the Geo News report.
In fact, the report's headline states in part: "A huge reduction in petrol demand after the price increases".
It adds that, according to oil companies, there is a chance that less oil will be imported as a result of the drop in demand.
In a statement sent to the media on June 30, Pakistan's finance ministry announced an increase in petrol prices starting July.
Pakistan State Oil, the company that operates petrol pumps across the country, also updated prices here.
Pakistani newspapers Dawn and The News also reported on the latest petrol price hike here and here.
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