ISLAMABAD: In what critics have described as a “petrol bomb” on citizens, the government of Pakistan late Friday night announced a sharp increase of Rs.55 per liter in petrol prices, citing surging global oil costs triggered by escalating conflict in the Middle East.
As a result of the latest move by the federal government, the ex-depot petrol price has been increased to Rs.321.17 per liter from Rs.266.17 per liter, representing a sharp 17% jump. Similarly, the ex-depot high-speed diesel rate has been fixed at Rs.335.86 per liter for next week.
The decision came hours after the Prime Minister approved that instead of fortnight, the prices of petroleum product would be determined on weekly basis in light of the region’s changing situation.
The decision has sparked widespread debate and criticism, with many questioning whether the country had actually purchased petroleum products at such inflated rates, given that the war only began five days ago.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the hike was unavoidable after international oil prices spiked in response to the widening regional conflict. “The situation intensified after an attack on Iran, and over the past 48 hours Turkey and Azerbaijan have also become involved, pushing petroleum prices significantly higher,” he told reporters.
It is worth mentioning that over the past six weeks, the government has raised petroleum product prices at least three times, including hikes of Rs.8.36 per liter in early July and Rs.8 per liter in March, before the latest unprecedented Rs.55 jump. This pattern of successive increases has intensified public anger and sharpened criticism of the government’s handling of fuel pricing.
Throughout the day, apparently engineered speculation swirled in the media that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had pressed Pakistan to immediately raise petrol and diesel prices, suggesting that the demand was made during virtual talks between Pakistani officials and an IMF delegation, though the government has yet to confirm these claims.
The announcement has also triggered revival of memories of political rhetoric from the past on social media.
نالائقِ اعظم نے عوام کی زندگی اجیرن کرنے کا بیڑہ اٹھا رکھا ہے۔ کہتا تھا کرپشن کی وجہ سے پیٹرول مہنگا ہوتا ہے! مکافاتِ عمل اٹل ہے! pic.twitter.com/B7hSmbFwnY
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) May 31, 2019
During the tenure of former prime minister Imran Khan, leaders of the present coalition and their media allies had lambasted the PTI government for raising petrol prices by Rs.12 per liter, branding it a decision taken in the “darkness of night.”
رمضان میں عوام کو ریلیف دینے کی بجائے پٹرول کی قیمتوں میں اضافہ سےحکومت مہنگائی سے پریشان عوام سے جینے کا حق چھین رہی ہے
روزگار رک گئے ہیں، مزدور گھر بیٹھ گئے ہیں،تنخوادار طبقے کی تنخواہیں وہی پرانی
حکومت بتائے کہ مجبورعوام انکی نااہلی اور نالائقی کا بوجھ مزید کیسے برداشت کریں؟— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) May 4, 2019
The contrast between then and now has not gone unnoticed, with opposition voices accusing the government of hypocrisy and insensitivity toward the public.
