KARACHI: (HRNW) Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Karachi Division Secretary Information and spokesperson Fauzia Siddiqui has expressed serious concern over rising inflation and the recent increase in petroleum prices, stating that the surge has placed an extraordinary burden on the public.
In a statement issued on Sunday, she said that despite a global petroleum market crisis, most countries had raised fuel prices only marginally, whereas Pakistan had imposed a significantly higher increase on its citizens.
Fauzia Siddiqui claimed that while many countries had increased petroleum prices by a maximum of around five per cent, Pakistan had raised petrol prices by nearly 21pc per litre, which she termed “a grave injustice to the public”.
She further stated that the government was currently collecting up to Rs120 per litre in various taxes and levies on petroleum products, adding that this had further aggravated the difficulties faced by citizens already struggling with inflation.
The PTI leader recalled that during the tenure of the PTI government, the petroleum levy tax had been suspended in order to provide relief to the public.
Highlighting the country’s financial situation, Ms Siddiqui said Pakistan was facing severe economic pressure and the burden of both external and internal debt had risen to alarming levels. According to her, the current situation meant that every Pakistani citizen was now burdened with an average debt of Rs333,000, which she described as evidence of the failure of the government’s economic policies.
She said the government’s flawed economic strategies had pushed inflation out of control, directly affecting the lives of ordinary citizens. Continuous increases in the prices of petrol, electricity and essential commodities, she added, were severely eroding the purchasing power of the people.
Fauzia Siddiqui called on the government to immediately reduce heavy taxes imposed on petroleum products, provide relief to the public and take practical steps to control inflation.
