Hike in petroleum price

Letter July 06, 2020
Institutions and industries have a habit of creating an artificial shortage through which they can control the supply and demand for personal gains

Recently, the PTI government increased the price of petrol by Rs25.58 per liter raising the price of a single liter to Rs100. Unfortunately, most of the petroleum companies were unwilling to sell petrol and Pakistan was facing an acute crisis as people were running from pillar to post in search of it.

The government has failed to deal with the petroleum companies since the price of diesel has also hiked by Rs21.31. This fuel is used in the transport and agriculture sector, therefore, an increase in its price would adversely affect these sectors causing an increase in the rate of inflation. While these happenings plague the country, the average middle- and lower-class citizens are suffering the brunt of it. Institutions and industries have made it a habit of creating an artificial shortage of products and materials through which they can control the supply and demand for their own personal interests.

The government and concerned authorities fail miserably to provide accountability. There is a dire need for counter-measures that keep the supply and demand of essential items in check since poor to are unable to afford even 3 square meals a day. All stakeholders need to work together to alleviate the problems that citizens are facing, rather than on to adding it.

Sarfraz Soomro

Shikarpur

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6, 2020.

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