CAIRO — Egypt has raised the price of piped drinking water by up to 45 percent.

Saturday's decision has been published in the country's official gazette.

The rise also includes a 12 percent increase in fees for sewage treatment.

Egypt raised the price of drinking water and sewage treatment by up to 50 percent in August.

The decision comes as the government presses ahead with an economic reform program that has included slashing fuel and electricity subsidies, imposing a value-added tax and a currency floatation. The measures were taken in order to qualify for a three-year $12 billion bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund, which it secured in 2016.