Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu said that it was the compulsion of the government to jack up the prices of petroleum products.

Speaking at a meeting of the Industry Committee under the House of Representatives on Monday, Minister Badu said that the government has reduced the tax levied on petroleum products by Rs 10 and cannot slash more than that.

Despite the increase in fuel prices, the Nepal Oil Corporation is still facing the loss, leader Badu further said.

He said that the government did not increase the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) so as not to give further stress to the people.