RAWALPINDI: Social leader and President of Taraqqi Pasand Falahi Tanzeem, Muhammad Aamir Siddiqui, has criticised the recent decision on petroleum prices, terming the sharp increase and daily price determination an act of injustice against the people.
In a statement, he said petroleum prices had reached a historic high, which, according to him, was tantamount to pushing the people deeper into a tsunami of inflation. He said the rulers’ “difficult decisions” had further increased public hardships at a time when the nation was already facing poverty and inflation.
Aamir Siddiqui said that after electricity, gas and LPG, the steep increase in petroleum product prices would add to the difficulties of the masses. He questioned how petroleum products purchased from Saudi Arabia and other countries, which take seven to 10 days to reach Pakistan, could be priced on a daily basis.
He said raising the price of an already purchased commodity was unjust and called upon the government to withdraw decisions based on oppression and injustice.
Aamir Siddiqui said that since the creation of Pakistan, the country had continuously remained in difficult circumstances and had always been passing through a hard phase. He said it was strange that the elite were becoming richer while the poor were becoming poorer.
He said people earning Rs30,000 to Rs40,000 and those with limited income were paying the cost of electricity, gas and petroleum products. He added that decision-makers sitting in air-conditioned rooms had left poor consumers worried even about using a fan because of the fear that if electricity consumption crossed 200 units, they would have to bear the burden of thousands of rupees in bills.
He questioned why those receiving salaries worth hundreds of thousands of rupees should continue to enjoy privileges and facilities free of cost. He asked whether sacrifices for the country would always be demanded only from the poor and how long the elite and bureaucracy would continue to benefit from perks and privileges.
Aamir Siddiqui urged the government to withdraw all privileges from the privileged class so that an equitable system could be introduced and free facilities brought to an end.
He said the steep rise in the prices of electricity, gas, LPG, food items and the continuous increase in petroleum prices, along with the heavy burden of petroleum levy, amounted to injustice with the people.
He demanded that the government announce special and direct relief on petroleum products for poor and vulnerable consumers, motorcyclists and daily-wage labourers so that they could support their families and contribute to national development.
Aamir Siddiqui said the country should adopt simplicity and austerity instead of relying on loans for development. He said the process of progress would move forward by promoting exports instead of imports.
He concluded by saying: “Azm-e-Alishan — Pakistan first, and Pakistan always Zindabad.”
