Petroleum products: Islamabadis decry increase in prices
Experts predict additional burden on farmers, criticise govt for not exploring alternative renewable energy sources.
ISLAMABAD:
The residents of Islamabad on Sunday expressed concern over the surge in petroleum prices and fear that the move is a precursor to rise in prices of other daily commodities.
A majority of commuters interviewed by The Express Tribune demanded the government to withdraw its decision.
They were of the view that the government did not “care about the common man’s suffering.”
“Instead of increasing petroleum prices, the government should have cut its own expenditure,” a group of disgruntled travellers said.
Currently thousands of people commute daily between Rawalpindi and Islamabad by public transport.
Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s summary on the increase in petroleum prices was approved by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday. As a result the price of petrol was raised by Rs4.88 per litre, kerosene by Rs3.75 per litre, high octane by Rs5.64 per litre and diesel by Rs4.14 per litre. The decision was justified
by citing the increase in petroleum prices in the international market.
But people have not received the news well.
“While people across the world were celebrating the new year, the government, by increasing the petroleum prices, added to the miseries of the common man,” said Sufian Alvi, a university student.
Syed Naqash, who lives in sector F-6, said, “The government is leading us towards a bygone era, where bull carts were used instead of motorbikes and cars.”
Sardar Ali, a government employee, demanded, “The government should also increase the salaries and compensation of common people.”
The increased petroleum prices, so far, have not translated to increased fares in the twin cities, but that might not last. Riasat Ali, a transporter, said while they were not demanding extra fare from commuters at present, the transporters are monitoring the issue and will visit the issue in the coming days.
What experts say
Muhammad Ibraheem Mughal, chairperson of Agri Forum Pakistan, told The Express Tribune that the decision would put a load of Rs41 billion on the farmers, which, he said, was unbearable for them.
He said presently, due to annual canal closure, farmers rely on tube wells to ensure supply of water to their crops. Around one million of these tube wells consume an estimated 3.5 billion litres of diesel, which alone would place an extra burden of more than Rs14 billion on the farmers.
Dr Abid Qayyum Suleri, an economist, told The Express Tribune that in the absence of mass transit system in the big cities, the decision to increase petroleum prices would badly affect the already hard-pressed people of the country. He criticised the government for not starting work on projects exploring alternative, renewable energy sources.
“It is the right time to work on both long-term projects to overcome the worst economic crisis in the history of the country,” Dr Suleri added. The government, he said, has taken this unpopular decision under the pressure of International Monitory Fund, as the country is facing “huge” budget deficits.
Zafarullah Khan, chairperson of Centre for Civic Education, said that there was a dire need to make the public transport system effective and to end the monopoly of the transporters. He criticised the government for failing to ensure adequate transport system for schools, due to which, he said, private use of vehicles increase the consumption of fuel and burden the economy.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2011.
The residents of Islamabad on Sunday expressed concern over the surge in petroleum prices and fear that the move is a precursor to rise in prices of other daily commodities.
A majority of commuters interviewed by The Express Tribune demanded the government to withdraw its decision.
They were of the view that the government did not “care about the common man’s suffering.”
“Instead of increasing petroleum prices, the government should have cut its own expenditure,” a group of disgruntled travellers said.
Currently thousands of people commute daily between Rawalpindi and Islamabad by public transport.
Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s summary on the increase in petroleum prices was approved by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday. As a result the price of petrol was raised by Rs4.88 per litre, kerosene by Rs3.75 per litre, high octane by Rs5.64 per litre and diesel by Rs4.14 per litre. The decision was justified
by citing the increase in petroleum prices in the international market.
But people have not received the news well.
“While people across the world were celebrating the new year, the government, by increasing the petroleum prices, added to the miseries of the common man,” said Sufian Alvi, a university student.
Syed Naqash, who lives in sector F-6, said, “The government is leading us towards a bygone era, where bull carts were used instead of motorbikes and cars.”
Sardar Ali, a government employee, demanded, “The government should also increase the salaries and compensation of common people.”
The increased petroleum prices, so far, have not translated to increased fares in the twin cities, but that might not last. Riasat Ali, a transporter, said while they were not demanding extra fare from commuters at present, the transporters are monitoring the issue and will visit the issue in the coming days.
What experts say
Muhammad Ibraheem Mughal, chairperson of Agri Forum Pakistan, told The Express Tribune that the decision would put a load of Rs41 billion on the farmers, which, he said, was unbearable for them.
He said presently, due to annual canal closure, farmers rely on tube wells to ensure supply of water to their crops. Around one million of these tube wells consume an estimated 3.5 billion litres of diesel, which alone would place an extra burden of more than Rs14 billion on the farmers.
Dr Abid Qayyum Suleri, an economist, told The Express Tribune that in the absence of mass transit system in the big cities, the decision to increase petroleum prices would badly affect the already hard-pressed people of the country. He criticised the government for not starting work on projects exploring alternative, renewable energy sources.
“It is the right time to work on both long-term projects to overcome the worst economic crisis in the history of the country,” Dr Suleri added. The government, he said, has taken this unpopular decision under the pressure of International Monitory Fund, as the country is facing “huge” budget deficits.
Zafarullah Khan, chairperson of Centre for Civic Education, said that there was a dire need to make the public transport system effective and to end the monopoly of the transporters. He criticised the government for failing to ensure adequate transport system for schools, due to which, he said, private use of vehicles increase the consumption of fuel and burden the economy.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2011.