Price hike denting PPP’s credibility in G-B

The ‘petrol price bomb’ dropped on the masses by the ‘people-friendly’ govt has been deadly for the G-B locals.

GILGIT: The effect of the ‘bomb’ dropped on the masses by the ‘people-friendly’ and democratically elected government in the shape of a price-hike in petroleum products has been deadly in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).

This increase in prices has led to a decrease in the creditability of the PPP government. The joy that most people had felt after the inception of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has turned into anger, with people now questioning the sincerity of the government towards the people who voted Asif Ali Zardari into power.

“It is really our fault. We shouldn’t have voted for the party in the elections held in Gilgit last year,” said Maqsood Khan, a resident of Ghizer, who works in Gilgit. He was frustrated after being further let down by a party that he held complete faith in previously.

“The PPP of Bhutto was a party for the people, but not this present PPP,” he said. The move to raise salaries of government employees followed by financial assistance through schemes such as BISP had supported the PPP in its quest to reduce poverty in the country but the recent increase in petroleum prices reversed it all together, leaving the party alone facing severe criticism from all and sundry.

These price increases have not only affected the common man but also the well to do in society.

Shah, a hotel owner in Gilgit, said that he was appalled at the guests raising objections over the price of food and other items. “How can we convince them that it is not us who are doing this but everything has become so expensive that it is hard to charge the old prices,” he said. Worried about his business Shah appealed to the government to take notice of this situation.

Similarly, the prices of vegetables, fruits and edible oils have also increased all of a sudden. On average, the prices of vegetables and fruits in Gilgit have increased by 10 per cent with the increase in petrol prices. “We have to pay more for transport now so it’s natural that we increase rates,” a vendor in main market Gilgit said.

A NGO worker, Masood Ahmed, said that the government is running short of time as public anger is increasing day by day.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2010.