Pakistan raises fuel prices after 22 months

KARACHI (Reuters) - Pakistan raised fuel prices by up to 10.70 percent on Saturday, the first rise in 22 months, the government said.

The government reviews fuel prices every two weeks but rises in global oil prices have not been passed on to the public.

Petrol and diesel prices were last raised on May 1, 2006. They were cut slightly in January 2007 but have been left unchanged since then. The latest adjustment is effective from Saturday.

"The per litre price of motor spirit (petrol) has been raised to 58.70 rupees (from 53.70), while that of light diesel oil has been increased to 36.07 rupees (from 32.57)," the official said.

Most analysts say the previous government, led by former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, held down fuel and utility prices so as not to antagonise voters ahead of the Feb. 18 election.

The two main opposition parties won the election.