Traders say new power policy to unleash storm of inflation

Traders on Thursday expressed the apprehension that the government's power policy will unleash a storm of inflation in the country as it will push prices of petroleum products and electricity to new highs. They said the continuing increase in power and petroleum products' prices has already threaten the existing fragile businesses forcing the traders to downsize further their set-ups to sustain the big inflation strike.
"The government's move to make petroleum and electricity costlier for commercial and domestic consumers will land the nation in deep financial chaos as the energy policy begins to unfold with dire implications," said Chairman All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI), Atiq Mir.
Talking to Business Recorder, he strongly reacted to the PML-N government's energy policy which indicates a major price hike in power and petroleum products' prices with less signs of electricity supplies to the nation. The government has failed to provide relief to the public as electricity is unenviable, fuel oil is expensive and CNG is supplied just three days a week, he said, asking "what kind of prosperity the government envisions for its nation."
Since the budget passage, the government's every step is reducing the trade prospects to grow, he said, adding that "each step of the government is ruining the economy of the country". He said that power and fuel oil prices hike will immediately spur between 5 and 10 percent inflation to trigger big jolt to the poor of the society, besides resulting in wrapping up of small businesses.
The move is largely feared to trigger unemployment and make essential items costlier, Atiq Mir said, adding that expensive electricity will further increase its theft across the country. He suggested the government to step up for economy's reformation instead of killing it.
"The anti-trade and business policies broadens gap between the businessmen community and the government," he warned, saying that fresh move will increase trust deficit in the country to deal with the economic troubles. He alleged the government for supporting and carrying out the IMF economic agenda in Pakistan, saying "the government has pushed back the nation 100 years back during its first 100 days of rule."