RAWALPINDI: Social leader and President of Taraqqi Pasand Falahai Tanzeem, Muhammad Aamir Siddiqui, has said that determination, courage, passion and practical struggle are the only way to overcome difficulties, as poverty and inflation have made life miserable for the people.
Speaking about the continued increase in petrol prices, he said the common man had been badly affected by the ongoing wave of inflation. He said that despite petroleum products already being at a high level, fixing prices first on a monthly basis, then fortnightly and now on a daily basis was against the national interest.
Aamir Siddiqui said that increasing petroleum prices was adding fuel to the fire of inflation. He said the continued rise in petrol prices was pushing people deeper into what he described as an inflation tsunami. He added that this increase was also causing a persistent rise in the prices of electricity, gas, LPG, packaged milk, oil, ghee, other food items and transport fares.
He said the people should not be trapped in schemes linked to reductions in petroleum products, and the government should move towards providing real relief. He urged the Prime Minister to reduce the heavy petroleum levy in order to make a visible cut in petroleum prices.
Aamir Siddiqui said the unnecessary use of official vehicles and free facilities enjoyed by the privileged class had become a burden on the nation, and ending such practices was the need of the hour. He said the rulers should adopt simplicity, as difficult conditions demanded austerity and the promotion of a simple lifestyle.
He said loans were against national dignity, adding that the country must move towards self-reliance. He also called for ensuring the immediate construction of water reservoirs as a sustainable solution to the energy crisis, and said getting rid of IPP sources would support the economy.
The social leader said high petrol prices had paralysed daily life. He said self-reliance and austerity were the traits of living nations, and maintained that determining electricity, gas and petroleum prices on the demand of the IMF was an act of injustice.
He said the people had lost the capacity to bear any further burden of inflation, and urged the government to take steps for price control and relief. Referring to talk of three weekly holidays, he said this was not good news. Instead of increasing holidays, he said, the rulers could change working hours and limit them to daylight to control the energy crisis.
Aamir Siddiqui said that in the present circumstances, expenses had gone far beyond income. He called for ensuring the affordable supply of electricity, gas and food items so the country could move towards development and prosperity.
