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