Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik has said over nine million citizens are benefiting from the Prime Minister's Fuel Relief Scheme.

Addressing a public gathering in Lahore, he said the government is making every possible effort to protect the people, particularly vulnerable segments, from the economic impact of rising petroleum prices.

He said since the outbreak of the war, the government had not tried to pass the entire burden on to the people and had increased petroleum prices only to the extent necessitated by the prevailing situation.

The Minister said the state had a responsibility to support weaker segments of society in difficult times and would not leave them alone.

Ali Pervaiz Malik said Pakistan faced challenges on both external and internal fronts, including the resurgence of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.