PESHAWAR:
The All Pakistan Oil Tanker Owners Association (APOTOA) has threatened to go on strike in 48 hours if the government fails to reverse the increase in petroleum prices.
The decision was taken by provincial president of the association, Nasir Ali Khan, and other representatives of the (APOTOA). They said that the price-hike would adversely affect the consumer’s purchasing power.
“We will stop supplying petroleum products if the government fails to reduce prices,” said Khan. The chairman of All Pakistan CNG Association Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa,Pervaiz Khattak, also rejected the Rs 7.11 per kilogramme increase in CNG prices.
Coalition and opposition parties have also opposed the increase in prices. , “The increase in oil and gas prices will further aggravate economic growth and increase the price of household commodities,” said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial spokesperson, Shah Farman.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) termed the current increase ‘a blunt failure of the government’. The party is planning a pubic gathering on 15 September in Nowshera to address the issue of inflation. “The financial policies of the government for the past four and a half years have completely failed and have brought the country on the verge of economic collapse,” said JI provincial spokesperson, Advocate Israrullah.
Awami National Party (ANP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) also oppose the government’s decision. ANP spokesperson Senator Zahid Khan said the petroleum advisor to the Prime Minister, Dr Asim Hussain should resign.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2012.
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