The businessmen, oil paint manufacturers, transporters and citizens have rejected a recent increase in prices of diesel and kerosene oil, and assailed the government for constantly raising oil prices. They said that the recent change in prices was unfavourable for them as it would badly affect the poor who use kerosene oil on regular basis.
Resident of rural areas said the change in oil prices, especially diesel and kerosene, was a bad decision as most of the poor use kerosene oil instead gas for cooking. Housewives demanded of the government to reduce the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene oil as the prices had gone down in the international market. A trader said the change would affect their business as inflation was likely to go up further. He said the carriage charges would increase further and finally prices of commodities.
Public transport owners have demanded withdrawal of the recent increase in fuel prices, especially diesel. Two major factions of public transporters met separately on Thursday to review the consequences of the increase in diesel prices and both announced to observe indefinite strike immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr. Talking to newsmen, National Transport Ittehad (NTI), Multan Chapter spokesman said that the government had reduced petrol prices by five rupees after oil prices decreased in the international market. "However, the government's decision to simultaneously hike diesel prices by Rs 3.5 per litre is beyond reasoning," he said. He added that the increase in diesel prices will not only affect industrial and agricultural production and public transporters but will also affect the consumers.
"Transporters will be forced to increase transport tariff and the increased cost of production will result in increased prices," said Bangash. He said that the NTI wanted to start the indefinite strike from Thursday but postponed it till after Eid to maintain the sanctity of Ramazan and prevent difficulties for people before Eid.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Transporters Association (PTA) has also expressed concern over the increase in diesel prices, stating that the increase belies the government's claims of addressing the public's problems. He demanded the government to not only withdraw the hike but also to announce a further ten rupees deduction by September 30, stating that, otherwise, transporters will be compelled to observe a strike for an indefinite period.