Industrialists, traders castigate government for POL price-hike

The industrialists and traders on Saturday have strongly criticised government's decision to increase price of petroleum products as unilateral and unjust. They said that repeated increase in the prices of oil in recent past already badly eroded Pakistan's competitiveness at the international market. Due to that the country was losing attraction for investment and this situation would further destabilise the economy, they said.
Ahtishamuddin, an industrialist said that PTI government was constantly making cruel decisions to raise petroleum and other utilities prices. He said government was increasing woes of the masses in order to continue with its lavish expenses instead of reducing its luxuries. He emphasised to cut down government luxuries.
"Increasing Rs 9 is a cruel act and will break the backbone of common man and the economy will be extremely overburdened," he said, asking how exporters could meet their commitment at the international market as the high prices of industrial inputs badly hit manufacturing. Kamran Aslam, another small industrial owner, said petroleum prices were already at the highest level and any further increase would prove the last straw that breaks the camel's back. He expressed his dismay over the prices of petrol which were going to affect all the commodities.
He said the general public, already under tremendous pressure, would be burdened further by soaring prices of all essential items. "Pakistan's export is already declining due to the high cost of business. Increase in fuel prices will sharply increase the cost of doing business," he alerted.
Muhammad Saleem said that the industry was already under immense pressure to maintain production level while the government was making such decisions without any justification. "The hike in POL prices sharply affects the cost of every commodity and raw materials; especially, the export-oriented industry becomes unable to meet its export related commitments due to increased overheads," he said.
The industrialists and traders said that the government was running at the mercy of God as it had no care for common man, let alone the industry and exports. They said government did nothing to control price-hike. They asked if the oil price increase was a gift of Ramazan from the government. They noted the prices of vegetable and fruits have already gone out of reach of general public. They said now transportation charges would go up affecting prices of everything.