Government has outlined a set of measures following an emergency Cabinet meeting aimed at addressing rising fuel costs and their impact on transport fares.

Cabinet has directed the Ministers for Finance and Energy to ensure a reduction in fuel prices in the next pricing window through the suspension of selected taxes and margins.

Details of the specific taxes and margins to be suspended are expected to be announced at the next pricing window.

The directive will be in effect for four weeks and will be subject to review, depending on developments in the Middle East conflict and fluctuations in global crude oil prices.

In the transport sector, the Minister for Transport has been tasked to expedite the deployment of 100 recently acquired Metro Mass Transit buses, in addition to the existing fleet.

The buses are to operate on high-traffic routes and maintain fares lower than those charged by private transport operators.

Cabinet also directed all ministers and senior government appointees to strictly comply with the President’s earlier directive cancelling fuel allocations and allowances.