KARACHI (HRNW)- Senior leader of the Insaf Lawyers Forum Karachi Division and noted legal practitioner Advocate Hasnain Ali Chohan has criticised the government’s decision to reduce petroleum prices by only Rs22 per litre, describing it as inadequate relief for citizens already struggling under severe economic pressure.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Chohan said the marginal reduction in fuel prices reflected a lack of understanding of the hardships faced by ordinary people. He argued that despite a significant decline in international crude oil prices, the government had failed to provide meaningful relief to consumers, which, he said, highlighted administrative inefficiency and anti-public economic policies.
The PTI-affiliated lawyer leader maintained that, in line with prevailing trends in the global oil market, petroleum prices in Pakistan could be reduced by as much as Rs150 to Rs200 per litre. However, he said, instead of transferring the full benefit of lower international prices to the public, the government continued to burden citizens through various taxes and levies.
Advicate Hasnain Ali Chohan said rising inflation, unemployment and increasing utility bills had already placed immense financial strain on households across the country. Under such circumstances, he added, the public expected substantial relief rather than symbolic reductions in fuel prices.
He further described the petroleum levy as an unjust and burdensome tax that was extracting billions of rupees from consumers. According to him, previous governments had provided relief during periods of national crisis, including the Covid-19 pandemic, whereas the current administration was increasing the financial burden on citizens instead of easing it.
Mr Chohan said government extravagance should not be financed through the hard-earned income of the people. He stressed that if oil prices were declining internationally, the corresponding benefit should be passed directly on to consumers in Pakistan.
Calling for immediate measures, he demanded the abolition of the petroleum levy and a more substantial reduction in petroleum prices. He urged the government to provide genuine economic relief to the public and warned that continued neglect of people’s concerns could compel citizens to raise their voice through constitutional and democratic means.
