Pakistan once again buckles under the pressure of inflated petrol prices. Political leaders are not holding back their criticism of the incumbent government for increasing the petrol prices.
The PTI government on Tuesday increased the prices of all petroleum products by Rs10 to Rs. 12 per liter for the next two weeks. Moreover, the new price of petrol hits a record level of Rs159.86 per liter. Meanwhile, high-speed diesel (HSD) is at Rs Rs154.15 per liter, kerosene oil at Rs126.56 per liter, and LDO at Rs 123.97/liter in the open market of the country.
Important to note, these are the highest-ever prices for all of the petroleum products, as well as the biggest price hike in one go.
Read more: Why does Pakistan need strategic petroleum reserves?
As a result, the Opposition leaders slammed the government. They rejected the new prices and urged the government to reverse the decision.
In a video message, Sindh government Spokesperson Murtaza Wahab slammed the PTI-led government for increasing prices of petroleum products.
Calling it an “atom bomb” Wahab said Imran Khan has proved that PTI has got nothing to do with the people of Pakistan. Murtaza Wahab further went on to say that PPP will send back this incompetent government to home with the force of people.
Spokesperson Sindh Govt @murtazawahab1 condemned the increase in petrol prices by federal govt . #GoImranGo #PetrolPriceHike #PetrolDieselPrice #PPPLongMarch pic.twitter.com/yVWfTUBTMO
— Fayaz Chachar (@ChacharFayaz) February 15, 2022
PPP MNA Shazia Atta Marri too expressed her anger at PM Imran Khan for burdening the population that is already battling inflation.
“Another petrol bomb by the selected government! Selected Prime Minister continues to punish the already suffering people of Pakistan,” Shazia Atta Marri tweeted.
Another petrol bomb by the Selected Government!
Selected Prime Minister continues to punish the already suffering people of Pakistan. #TabahiSarkar#Inflation#PriceHike#TabdeeliNahinTabahi pic.twitter.com/yK0ux55C8O— Shazia Atta Marri (@ShaziaAttaMarri) February 15, 2022
Similarly, Sindh Provincial Minister Saeed Ghani lashed out at the government and listed its failures. “However, according to the Cabinet, the economy is booming,” Saeed Ghani added.
عوام دشمن نیازی سرکار نے پیٹرول 12.03, ڈیزل 9.53 اور مٹی کا تیل 10.08 روپے مہنگا کرکے عوام پر ایک اور مہنگائی بم گرا دیا ہے۔ گیس اور کھاد دستیاب نہیں، بجلی ہر مہینے مہنگی ہورہی ہے، دوائیاں اور کھانے پینے اشیاء عوام سے دور ہوگئی ہیں۔
لیکن بقول چول کابینہ کے معیشت ترقی کررہی ہے pic.twitter.com/6ZFoL2TlRi— Senator Saeed Ghani (@SaeedGhani1) February 15, 2022
Opposition calls government incompetent
Furthermore, former Finance Minister Miftah (April 2018- May 2018) from PML-N retweeted an old tweet of PM Khan where he criticized the then PML-N government for increasing petrol prices in 2018.
“What happened to the IK who was going to crack down on money laundering, tax reforms, collect more taxes, reduce expenditures, reduce debt, end protocol, end SOE losses, control prices, provide justice, improve schools, create jobs, build houses and reduce petrol prices?” Miftah Ismail tweeted.
What happened to the IK who was going to crack down on money laundering, do tax reforms, collect more taxes, reduce expenditures, reduce debt, end protocol, end SOE losses, control prices, provide justice, improve schools, create jobs, build houses and reduce petrol prices? https://t.co/6f863wwdni
— Miftah Ismail (@MiftahIsmail) February 15, 2022
Meanwhile, four-time Minister for Finance of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar called the new prices “unaffordable.”
“Dictated Pak Rupee devaluation has landed the Pakistani nation with unaffordable prices per liter of petrol products which have been increased by Imran Niazi government to new peak,” Ishaq Dar tweeted.
Read more: Is the government going to disqualify Ishaq Dar and Ch. Nisar Ali Khan?
Dictated Pak Rupee devaluation has landed Pakistani nation with unaffordable prices per litre of petro products which have been increased by #ImranNiazi Govt to new peak:
Petrol Rs 12 to Rs 160
HD Diesel Rs 10 to Rs 154
Kerosene Oil Rs 10 to Rs 127#petrolprice pic.twitter.com/bZFvc6em23— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) February 15, 2022
Important to note, during a media briefing on Tuesday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said there is “no doubt” that the prices of petroleum products will increase.
Moreover, Fawad said that the price of petroleum products is not the cabinet’s decision and is dependent on other factors. To clarify, the current Russia-Ukraine crisis has significantly jacked up international petrol prices.