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Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb separately in the news conference announced subsidies aimed at offering relief to small farmers, motorcyclists and intercity transportation of goods and passengers.

Malik said the government had given a subsidy of 129 billion rupees in the last three weeks, but it was no longer affordable due to the hike in international oil prices.

In Australia, the government yesterday urged motorists to fill their cars at city petrol stations if they’re planning long road trips over the Easter holiday, as rural towns face fuel shortages.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen said hundreds of service stations had run out of diesel nationally and over a hundred were without unleaded petrol, reports AFP.

“For those Australians planning a road trip this weekend, given our shortages are predominantly rural and regional Australia, it makes sense to fill up in the city to help the country if you can,” he told reporters in Sydney.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s prime minister yesterday slammed oil traders for “excessive profiteering”, blaming those stockpiling fuel or smuggling it abroad for shortages that have driven prices steadily higher.

“Authorities have found cases of fuel stockpiling and smuggling for sale in neighbouring countries,” Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said, adding the problem had cost the government 50 billion baht ($1.4 billion).

“This action (smuggling and stockpiling) amounts to excessive profiteering from rising oil prices during the global energy crisis,” he said, calling it “a major factor behind the nationwide fuel shortages seen in recent weeks”.