Opposition rejects hike in petrol, diesel prices

ISLAMABAD: Opposition leaders, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shahbaz Sharif, on Monday slammed the federal government over its decision to increase the prices of all petroleum products by up to 6.45% the month of April. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz took to Twitter and called for the government to take back the decision as per which petrol and diesel prices were increased by Rs6 per litre.

"The government should take back the bewildering increase in petrol and diesel prices. The 'tsunami of inflation' has made life extremely difficult for the Pakistani nation," he said. Shahbaz further questioned, "Why do Imran Khan's hands not tremble when signing orders for increase in prices?"

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) questioned the PTI government’s economic strategy, saying that the economy is in dire straits and the government is directionless. Prices of petrol, diesel and electricity have skyrocketed while a meteoric rise in gas bills has crippled thousands of households while gas is becoming an unaffordable luxury in this country, it said. “Every other day this government announces decisions that increase the suffering of the people of this country.

This time they have dropped a petrol bomb which has hiked the price of petrol by Rs6. This is going to cause a new wave of inflation in the country,” said PPP Parliamentary leader in the Senate Senator Sherry Rehman while reacting on the increase in petroleum prices in the country. Criticising the government’s poorly planned policies Sherry Rehman said the bills of electricity and gas are going through the roof and a further 41 percent hike expected by July while the agriculture sector is struggling due to higher costs of input.

She said that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had missed its target by Rs317 billion despite massive taxation and instead of bringing progressive tax reforms the government was conveniently hiking prices to maximise revenue. “The government was absolutely desensitised to the common man’s issues,” she lamented.

Sherry Rehman said the fact that the rupee is in a constant decline does not help either. The dollar is nearly Rs141 at the moment. “They have brought IMF to our doorstep before even signing anything. What makes matters worse is that they do not consider consulting the Parliament before announcing their outrageous decisions or policies,” she said.

The senator said the Opposition has been urging the government to bring issues to the Parliament but for fear of opposition, they refrain. Questioning PTI’s strategy Sherry Rehman asked, “Why is the government that was pitching itself as the political messiah scratching its head now? Eight months have already lapsed and with passing time, they are running out of excuses,” she said.