Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has termed the recent increase in prices of petroleum commodities as unwise decision of government for country's economy and poor masses, and demanding for its immediate withdrawal. Zahidullah Shinwari, president of SCCI in a statement issued here on Monday said that the continuous hike in prices of petroleum products was tantamount to anti-masses and country.
He asked the government to immediate take back the decision in best interest of the poor masses and economy of the country. He said the federal government and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) in connivance with Oil companies are pushing the country toward disastrous under well-planned conspiracy.
SCCI chief said the hike in petrol Rs 4.6 per litre, diesel Rs 3.96 per litre and kerosene oil Rs 6.74 per litre was drone attack on business community and poor masses. He said that the industrial production cost would increase along with a new wave to come of inflation due to noticeable surge in prices of the petroleum commodities.
Shinwari said that government was giving justification of increase in petroleum prices after hike in raw oil in global market. He said there was no increase in petroleum products in world market. But, he said the decision was taken by government to fulfill its expenditure. He said the increase in PoL prices with start of New Year was strongly condemnable.
SCCI chief said instead of giving relief to the business community, the government anti-masses policies would put the country's economy at stake by its unwise decision, which was unacceptable to them. He asked the government to immediate withdraw its decision. Otherwise, he warned that business community would compel to start country-wide protest campaign.