President Transport Action Committee and Transporters Association, Tariq Khan Niazi has expressed concern over the hike in petroleum prices and called upon the political parties to play their role to bring the prices down.
In a statement issued on Monday, transport leaders said that petroleum prices had plunged from $148 to $105 per barrel in the international market but the Pakistani government was reluctant to reduce the oil prices and claiming that it was paying Rs 20 per litre subsidy on diesel.
He said that the government, owing to increase in oil prices in the international market raised its prices domestically, adding it had directly hit the common man, as this rise in oil prices directly resulted in soaring prices of all essential commodities. Now the government on the plea of increased oil prices had also increased the electricity tariff by 30 percent, which is a sheer injustice with the poverty-hit people, they added.
He said that despite the cut of 40 dollars per barrel in the petroleum prices in the international market the Pakistani rulers were not ready to shift the benefit of oil cut to the people, which was a condemnable act.
He also criticised the elected representatives and ruling political parties for not raising their voice over this public issue, saying it is an insult of the public mandate. They demanded of the government to cut the oil prices and provide relief to the masses.