Another POL price hike triggers widespread anxiety

They also expressed concerns over the increasing price hike of commodities, transportation and other charges due to repeated increases in the petroleum prices.

“We were expecting a reduction in the POL prices but the increase surprised us. This is highhandedness with the public at large,” he deplored while lashing out at the government.

Fresh increase challenged in high court

On Friday, the government announced a hike in the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs26.77 each due to which the per litre price of both reached to Rs393.35 and Rs380.19 respectively. Petrol is mostly used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers and increase in its price affects the middle and lower-middle class. Similarly, the increase in diesel prices also impacts the public at large, businesses etc since it is mainly used in the heavy transport sector, plants and large generators.

Following the US-Israeli war on Iran, the government initially increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 per litre on March 6 besides announcing unprecedented austerity measures on March 9. On April 2, the government again increased petrol and diesel prices by 43pc and 55pc respectively.

However, PM Shehbaz Sharif intervened following severe criticism from the public and slashed the petroleum levy by Rs80 per litre, bringing the price of petrol down to Rs378 per litre. On April 10, the PM further decreased diesel prices and petrol prices by Rs135 and Rs12 per litre, respectively. Last week, PM Shehbaz approved Rs32.12 reduction in the price of diesel. However, the price of petrol was kept unchanged. Finally, on Friday, the government again increased prices of petrol and diesel by nearly Rs27 per litre.

“With repeated increases in the POL prices, it seems that the government is crushing the poor, who are already fighting with immense inflation. The government must understand and devise a plan to accommodate

the poor in such times,” said a motorcyclist at a petrol pump in Johar Town.

On the other hand, trade unions and associations have also criticised the government for increasing petrol and diesel prices.

TRADE UNIONS: A meeting of the office bearers of the All-Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions was held under the chairmanship of General Secretary Khurshid Ahmed.

Representatives from affiliated organisations — including Irrigation, PWD, National Bank of Pakistan, Transport, Construction, Electricity Department, and Textile — participated in the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, senior labour leaders Khurshid Ahmed, Akbar Ali Khan, Salahuddin Ayubi, Arshad Gujjar, Javed Iqbal Khan, Usama Tariq, Hassan Munir Bhatti, Shafqat Javed, Sajid Kazmi, Nosher Khan, Musarrat Shafi and Zahida Akhtar said that poor people and workers across the country had been severely distressed due to rising prices of essential daily commodities.

They stated that the government was fueling inflation by increasing petroleum prices without proper consideration. The rise in electricity and gas tariffs was severely affecting all aspects of life. This situation had become unbearable for ordinary people, they said.

“It has become extremely difficult to provide education to children, as schools are closed three days in a week, while fees continue to rise. Books and notebooks have also become more expensive. The younger generation is deeply frustrated due to unemployment,” said Khurshid Ahmad.

He said rising medicine prices had deprived the poor of proper healthcare. The three-day weekly closure had negatively impacted workers’ livelihoods, and the closure of commercial areas at 8pm was proving economically devastating for low-income workers.

On this occasion, they urged the government to withdraw the unnecessary increase in petroleum prices.

It was also demanded that conveyance allowances be increased in line with rising transport fares so that workers could continue to fulfill their official duties.

Challenged: A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court challenging the recent increase in petroleum product prices.

Advocate Azhar Siddique, head of the Judicial Activism Panel, filed the petition, pleading that the federal government raised petrol and diesel prices by Rs26.77 per litre.

According to the petitioner, the hike has pushed petrol prices to an unprecedented Rs393.35 per litre.

He alleges that the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) is being used as an unlawful tool for revenue generation, claiming that over Rs1,200 billion have been collected under this head during the first nine months of the current fiscal year.

The petitioner argues that the financial burden has disproportionately fallen on ordinary consumers, particularly daily wage earners.

He argues that no transparent pricing mechanism has been disclosed by the government.

He alleges that the recent increase is the result of taxation measures rather than fluctuations in international oil prices.

The petitioner asserts that the continuous rise in fuel prices violates principles of economic justice and infringes upon fundamental rights of the citizens.

He asks the court to direct the authorities to present a complete record of petroleum pricing, including correspondence with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He also seeks an immediate halt to further price increases until a transparent mechanism is formulated.

The petitioner has urged the court to declare the recent hike illegal and set it aside.

The federal government and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) have been made respondents in the petition.