Hours after Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced a “massive” hike in the prices of petroleum products on Sunday morning, reactions from various quarters have echoed the public’s fear of a fresh wave of inflation across the country. Struggling to register additions.
The government’s decision to hike petrol and diesel prices by Rs 35 per liter effective from 11 am today comes after the rupee depreciated against the US dollar. The prices of kerosene and light diesel have also been increased by Rs 18 per litre.
The leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf have condemned the rise in the prices of petroleum products as well as the ruling administration at the Centre.
On Twitter, PTI Chairman Imran Khan slammed the ‘corrupt’, ‘incompetent’ and ‘imported’ government for total mismanagement of the country’s economy.
“The total mismanagement of our economy by a corrupt and incompetent import government has crushed the public and the salaried class with the latest hike in petrol and diesel prices and the 33/$/$ hike to 262.6/$. 35% abnormal inflation is expected with increase in electricity and gas prices and a small budget of 200 billion rupees.
Total mismanagement of our economy by a corrupt & incompetent imported govt has crushed masses & salaried class with latest hike in petrol & diesel prices & Rs33/$ devaluation to Rs262.6/$. Elec & gas price hike & 35% unprecedented inflation expected with Rs200bn mini budget.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 29, 2023
Secretary General of Khan-led party Asad Umar prayed for Allah’s mercy on the people of the country.
“People are already reeling from the worst inflation in history,” he tweeted.
پیٹرول اور ڈیزل 35 روپیہ مزید مہنگا. پہلے ہی تاریخ کی بدترین مہنگائی سے عوام پریشان. اللہ اس قوم پر رحم کرے اور اس عذاب سے نجات دلائے
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) January 29, 2023
Meanwhile, PTI member and former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri also condemned the increase on his official Twitter handle, comparing the current prices with those of the previous PTI regime.
“The nation is paying a heavy price for the [National Reconciliation Ordinance] NRO2,” he wrote on the microblogging site, alleging that the current government was brought to power through a deal.
178 روپے ڈالر، 150 روپے لیٹر پیٹرول اور اور 145 روپے لیٹر ڈیزل والی حکومت کو پراپیگنڈہ، میڈیا مینجمنٹ اور سازشیں کر کے گرا دیا گیا اب دس ماہ کے بعد آج وہی ڈالر 262 روپے، پیٹرول 250 روپے اور ڈیزل 262 روپے ہے تو نا اہل اور عوام دشمن کون ہوا؟ قوم NRO2 کی بہت بڑی قیمت ادا کر رہی ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/LXxcIl6r1P
— Qasim Khan Suri (@QasimKhanSuri) January 29, 2023
Yasmin Rashid, a senior PTI member from Lahore, also criticized the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government for taking a major decision, which has upset the people with their declining purchasing power.
Talking to journalists in Zaman Town, Lahore, the former health minister said that the senior vice president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) Maryam Nawaz asked the nation to trust Ishaq Dar to improve the situation. However, he said, petrol prices increased.
He said that today diesel and petrol has become expensive by Rs 35 and it will affect everything.
The former minister alleged that the government was “trying to take revenge, actually for Imran Khan, from the people”.
The rise in petroleum product prices comes after the rupee hit historic lows against the dollar following the removal of an unofficial cap on the greenback.
After the devaluation of the local currency, there was widespread speculation that the government might increase prices by more than Rs.80.
Amid such rumours, people started a rush at petrol stations with the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) advising people to stop spreading misleading and false information.
