KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Coordination Committee said that the increase in petrol prices is a crime against the public and the decision should be retracted immediately, Express News reported on Sunday.
The committee added that the government should cut down on its non-developmental expenditures instead of raising petrol prices which has become a huge burden for the public.
Earlier, the All Pakistan Transport Owners Association (APTOA) said that if the government did not retract its decision of raising Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) prices, transporters will have no choice but to raise transportation fares as it will not be possible to keep transport running otherwise.
The association added that the government raises fuel prices whenever it feels like, but does not allow them to raise fares.
These statements were in response to the government’s announcement earlier in the day of another increase in the POL prices.
For the first time in the country’s history, all three fuels – petrol, diesel and kerosene oil – will cost over Rs100 per litre effective Sunday (today). Price of CNG has also been raised by up to Rs11.55 per kg.
With a Rs8.02 hike, per litre petrol price has jumped from Rs97.66 to Rs105.68, according to a notification issued by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) on Saturday night.
Per litre price of high speed diesel was raised by Rs4.70 – from Rs103.46 to Rs108.16 – while the price of kerosene oil was raised by Rs5.29 – from Rs96.40 to Rs101.69 per litre.
The price of High Octane Blending Component has been raised from the current Rs126.87 to Rs135.81 – an increase of Rs8.94.
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when there is a cng strike then also the buses and rickshaws say cng is not there hence not plying on road, so technically since they are running on cng they cant raise the price so high saying it has crossed 100 coz cng is still not so.
@John:
Are you suggesting the loan repayment to the IMF not be made?
Why not add IMF load payments to the list that the PAK government is preparing to present to the US as part of the reset. It would seem to be a small price for the US to restore the honor of PAK.
@sar: You live in your own fantasy world. Talking of planning community centers now?? Where can you find any space in this chaos? and commuting on donkey carts? I hope that was sarcasm.
@Amer M: Most unfortunately, sentiments don't govern how this world works. 'Ahsaas' and sentiments get you nothing, only money can. And how can you know if someone is elite? Be practical, not just sentimental. If the global prices are going up, what can the Pakistan government possibly do? Look for alternate energy plans. And yes, if all Pakistanis can pay their due share of tax returns they owe to the government. Where does the "ahsaas" go there? And this is nothing but political point scoring by MQM. We know all too well how useless these parties are.
Dollar has gone from 60 to 90 Rs.in 4 years, so oil prices in local currency have to follow, and despite the rise in prices the level is quite fair. For ages we as a nation have received subsidized fuel at the cost of our poor and our economy, and this needs to end now.
Ideally government should increased taxes on cigarettes, private cars and other luxury products used by the rich and the famous of Pakistan. Use these taxes to improve infrastructure for use of common man. I am not surprised to see how corporates have undermined our governments ability to impose such increased taxes!
I think taking subsidy away from fuel is a step in right direction - when rich start using public transport the public transport system will improve for all. Obviously we all have concerns towards our governments ability and intent to do things, but doest this applies for us as a nation as well?
Lets not be hippocrats, and expect government to do the right things when we our self at shops, business, services, offices etc are looking to increase our revenues!
Change Pakistan
Pakistan Zindabad
The Oil prices in global market have fallen today and our government has risen the oil prices.
Do we have the right to know how Govt. works out the fuel prices? How much the Govt. is earning on each liter that we buy? Its essential because the prices are controlled and there is no competition.
For the first time in the country’s history, all three fuels – petrol, diesel and kerosene oil – will cost over Rs100 per litre. Thanks PPP for breaking all records.
@ishrat salim: i second you
I like the ostrich in the associated picture, wonder if it has any connection to the story.
@Maria: When petrol prices falls internationally then why government doesn't lower the prices of petrol/cng.
strong text It is a matter of perceptions............not everyone in society has to have a car....and what about planning.....why not build community based work places that have heaviest labour content such as offices and municipal sub-stations and sub-courts in closer commuting distance from where people live.....planning such as this saves a whole lot of bus travel for the poor motorbikes and all....consequently consume less and less fuel......for example in Karachi why do all the office towers have to be in the vicinity of Mcleod Road Isphani Road MA JInnah Road....etc....and whats wrong with commuting on "gadhha " and "ount" garees....better that those ugly rickety old taxis rickshas and bussess think positive dont pay high fuel costs
When dollar was 60 petrol was 82 now dollar is 91 so it has to be over 100. thanks to our govt for devaluing our currency.... !
MQM is late in raising the issue . I purchased petrol for Rs.200 for power generator and the petrol pump gave me 1.88 liters.
There is no need for the MQM to make hue and cry after the new prices have been implemented by the petrol pumps in the open market.
PPP will never ever get a single vote from Karachi.
I am not sure that in the next general elections, people from Karachi will either give votes to MQM (Altaf) or MQM (Haqiqi), as MQM (Altaf) has failed to deliver during the past 10 years and could not come up according to the aspirations of its voters.
@Maria:
You can pay for an increased price doesn't mean that a poor Pakistani can too pay for this. The real problem with people like you is the lack of what we say "AHSAAS". The elite class can even pay Rs 1000/liter. Bur please think about the common poor class people. And majority of we Pakistanis can't even afford one liter petrol per day at this hiked price. Be Pakistan!! Think Pakistan..
MQM (who is already in govt.) demands to whom.....????
How about hedging oil, like most countries in the world with functioning and semi intelligent officials do? Book long term contracts for oil supply, introduce a bit of predictability at a cheaper than market price, and at the same time remain unaffected by oil price fluctuations.
Of course, the devaluing rupee and the corruption in the petroleum development levy and now the natural gas development levy is still something we will continue to be harassed by.
This is a public cause worth calling a strike
The Government's policies is not for the people of pakistan but to collect money from whatever source for their own welfare. The Government do not want to cut down their non development expenditures but to increase more or more burden on the shoulders of poor people of Pakistan.
...........and we demand you (MQM) & ANP to stop killing Pakistanis. Stop this racist politics and give some relief to the people of Pakistan. Give them education & peace.
Take the politics out of fuel pricing --- let supply/demand and World market dictate price. If you had been doing this all along you would have woken up to your energy shortage much quicker. The time for vote buying by subsidizing energy is over - your broke.
Will MQM ask the global market to change the price of petrol so that it can be cheaper only in Pakistan? Why shouldn't Pakistanis be forced to pay what everyone else in the world pay or do they deserve discounted gas because they are special?