LAHORE – The 10 percent increase in petroleum prices has affected the rich and poor alike in the city. Citizens complained that the hike had affected their budget as a whole and criticised the authorities for the decision. Rustam Ali Khan, a father of three said, “I don’t understand what this government wants from us; we already do not get CNG for 2 days in a week and now a sudden raise of more than 7 rupees in the petrol prices ? I have no idea what the government is up to.”
He said the public did not know who to turn to in financial crisis. Zain Ali Butt, a student from Lahore School of Economics (LSE), said he has to travel more than 15 kilometres every day. Complaining about the petrol price hike he said that he can not afford travelling to his university from his own pocket money. Rasheed Masih, a taxi driver, said the passengers avoided taking cabs now.
He said the public thinks that taxi drivers try to fool passengers by asking more money, while the truth was that the price hike forced them to. “Fact of the matter is that I have five school going children. How can one earn a living in such an inflated economy”, he said. Amir Mustafa, a banker, said the government had no other option. He said the petrol prices, internationally, have witnessed a raise after the unrest in the Middle East. He said even this issue was being politicized.
He said the problems could be resolved if the politicians worked with more foresightedness. “The government should have raised petrol prices with the international market. Now when they have raised prices doubly, the public is showing concern which is totally acceptable”, he added.
