A worker fills a car’s tank at a fuel station amid concerns about rising fuel prices linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Photo: Reuters (file)
LAHORE:
A sharp increase in petroleum prices has triggered a fresh wave of economic anxiety across Pakistan, with transporters raising fares, businesses warning of mounting operational costs, and ordinary citizens bracing for another inflationary shock in an economy already under severe strain.
Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Saturday strongly criticised the government over the latest increase in petroleum prices, accusing it of placing an unfair financial burden on ordinary citizens through repeated fuel hikes and excessive taxation despite declining international oil prices.
The criticism came as the SCBA also demanded an immediate reversal of the increase, warning that higher fuel prices would further accelerate inflation and raise the cost of essential commodities across the country.
In a statement posted on X, Hafiz Naeem said the government had once again increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs15 per litre, alleging that fuel pricing had effectively been turned into a “source of revenue generation” at the expense of the public.
He said authorities continued to justify the hikes by citing fluctuations in the global market while simultaneously collecting heavy petroleum levies.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Bar Association also voiced concern over the increase in petroleum prices and urged the federal government to immediately withdraw the hike.
The demand was made during the 28th Executive Committee meeting of the SCBA chaired by its president, Haroonur Rashid. In a statement issued after the meeting, the association said the increase had further intensified difficulties for the public.
