Kathmandu / Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has instructed Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to withdraw its latest decision of hiking the price of petroleum products. 

Talking to media persons after the meeting of the Council of Ministers today, Minister for Communications and Information Technology and government spokesperson Rekha Sharma said the Prime Minister has already directed the NOC to take back the price hike.READ ALSO: Cooking gas dearer by Rs 215 in Nepali kitchen as Dashain nears.

"The Prime Minister has instructed the Nepal Oil Corporation to withdraw its decision of raising the price of petroleum products effective from today itself. Although the Corporation has adopted the automated pricing system, the PM issued this directive keeping in mind the problems this (the decision to hike price) would create to the people during the festival time," she said.

The government spokesperson said that NOC will issue a notice today itself retaining the earlier price of petroleum products.NOC on Saturday hiked the price of petrol and diesel by rupees six per litre, of kerosene by two rupees per litre and aviation fuel (both domestic and international) by eight rupees per litre. Similarly, the price of LP Gas was increased by Rs 215 per cylinder.