Pakistan

Petrol prices: ‘President promises to review the decision’

President Zardari tells Altaf he will meet MQM representatives to address their concerns.

Express March 02, 2011

KARACHI: Amid growing criticism from the opposition and some allied parties on Monday’s increase in the prices of petroleum products, President Asif Ali Zardari is said to have assured the chief of a key coalition partner that the government will review the decision.

Speaking to Altaf Hussain, chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) over phone, President Zardari said that he and Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh will meet the MQM representatives on Wednesday (today) to address the party’s concerns.

According to media release issued from London, Altaf informed the president about the unease created by the government decision to increase the prices of petroleum products by close to 10 per cent.

On Monday, the MQM coordination committee rejected the increase and asked the government to review its decision within three days.

Altaf said that the raise in the prices of petroleum products would have a domino effect as it would lead to a sharp increase in the prices of daily-use items. This, he said, would add to the problems of the common man.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2011.

COMMENTS (16)

Sana | 13 years ago | Reply Lets us learn to pay tax and then demand any support from bankrupt government. Our singers are earning 100+million yearly and don't possess any tax number

Imran | 13 years ago | Reply Please do not reduce petrol prices. No siubsidies. Petrol has increased all over the world. In UK by 20% and even in India its selling for pak rs equivalent of 120 rupees. The govt is still subsidising otherwise the proposed price increase was Rs 20. Please understand thats its important for our economy not to subsidise. And those who want to strike n burn should know they r simply harming thier own country. When benazir died u burnt so much that the result was load shedding. Burn again n u will get even higher petrol prices. Zardari ko mera salaam. First good thing he has done.

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Adnan | 13 years ago | Reply Considering Mr Altaf Hussain is living in London and is a British citizen, would his comments about the rising cost of petrol not be better directed at Her Majesty's government where the price of petrol has gone up by 20%? Or does he save his pithy remarks for the hapless people of Pakistan?!

lovepak | 13 years ago | Reply We will strike come this friday the country will burn and no movement of traffic or goods will be allowed. Industries will stop functioning till the prices are brought down and governemtn find other ways of subsidizing fuel and food for the poor.

Billoo Bhaya | 13 years ago | Reply @Farris: I can stand to be elected President. If you can elect Zardari why not me.

Farris | 13 years ago | Reply This President is a money launderer and a thieve hinself. Does his assurance mean anything? Is not it dangerous to have such a person his hands into Bait-ul-maal? His cronies has been empty the treasury for the last three years of this nation. Nation must wake up and throw out such hooligans. Why can not we elect people with character? Remember until we elect honest people, we are not going to survive. Is Imran Khan not honest? His entire life is before people. Not even his enemies can blame him for corruption. Abudusattra Edhi, Dr. Abdul Qadir Khan, Judge saeed-uzaman Siddique., I can have the whole list. At least these people are honest from toe to head. It's our short sightedness that we ignore them and elect those who can shout lies at the top of their voices and false promise to the public which never lealize. By doing that we compromise the our future and the future of our generation by giving control of our National wealth to these Thugs who come to Power just for robbing the national wealth. Until Public keep electing such dishonest people nothing will change.

Billoo Bhaya | 13 years ago | Reply @bunny: Can you tell me if you are a guy or gal?? Bunny to me sounds a gal but then I don't know your preference. You are quite a spunky kind which makes you quite interesting to a guy. .

Billoo Bhaya | 13 years ago | Reply @Zia Ur Rehman: One guy is asking which planets are we living on? Upon reading your comment I could not help asking you the same question. Are you living in Uranus?

Billoo Bhaya | 13 years ago | Reply @Meekal Ahmed: What is with you and the planets?? You had rhetorically asked me on which planet I was living, Now you are wondering if the President and Altaf Bhai are living on Mars? Can I ask you too? Are you living in Uranus?? You are an intelligent guy, did you get it???

bunny | 13 years ago | Reply Gentlemen Until or unless we produce ourselves we cannot bring any change to the prices and all leader of PPP MQM and so is PML (All) have any such vision all are looking to fil thier own accounts...not even them now their kids are making money see Gilaniz son and so is chaudhrys son....Please stopp voting for them pleaseee..otherwise u will not see any change

Hmmm | 13 years ago | Reply So what to do now? Reverse the decision? Where to plug the deficit from? Printing more money? What will that do? It will just create more inflation than any of you out there think. Welcome to Pakistan. MQM has no alternative and is just playing the political game. And how funny that they talk about revolution at the same time when they are enjoying power

Ch Umair Javed | 13 years ago | Reply present Government keep on sucking the blood of poor people but i think that we the people of pakistan are sleeping and bear all these brutal decisions so we have to do some thing against this and needs to walk out from our homes for a great protest against the present rulers.

Zia Ur Rehman | 13 years ago | Reply We must work our destiny in our own way and present to the world an economic system based on true Islamic concept of equality of manhood and social justice. We will thereby be fulfilling our mission as Muslims and giving to humanity the message of peace which alone can save it and secure the welfare, happiness and prosperity of mankind” Speech at the opening ceremony of State Bank of Pakistan, Karachi July 1, 1948 Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Abdul Ali | 13 years ago | Reply This confirms that the government is dysfunctional.

Musa Changazi | 13 years ago | Reply Atleast, there is some a political party which can pressurize the government on a matter related to the masses.

Meekal Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply Do the President and Altaf Bhai live on Mars?

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