Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government over increase in prices of petroleum products and depreciation of rupee against dollar. PPP Parliamentary Leader in the Senate, Senator Sherry Rehman said, "Every other day, this government announces decisions that increase the suffering of the people of this country. This time they have dropped a petrol bomb which has hiked the price of petrol by Rs 6. This is going to cause a new wave of inflation in the country."
Criticising the government's poorly planned policies, she said, "Economy is in dire straits and the government is directionless. Prices of petrol, diesel and electricity have skyrocketed while a meteoric rise in gas bills has crippled thousands of households. Gas is becoming an unaffordable luxury in this country. The bills are going through the roof and a further 41 percent hike is expected by July. The agriculture sector is struggling due to higher costs of input."
She said that the Federal Board of Revenue has missed its target by Rs 317 billion so far despite massive taxation. Instead of bringing progressive tax reforms, the government is conveniently hiking prices to maximise revenue. The government is absolutely desensitised to the common man's issues, she lamented.
"The fact that the rupee is in a constant decline does not help either. The dollar is nearly Rs 141 at the moment. They have brought IMF to our doorstep before even signing anything. What makes matters worse is that they do not consider consulting the Parliament before announcing their outrageous decisions or policies. The opposition has been urging the government to bring issues to the Parliament but for fear of opposition, they refrain," the PPP leader objected.
Questioning PTI's strategy she asked, "Why is the government that was pitching itself as the political messiah scratching its head now? Eight months have already lapsed and with passing time, they are running out of excuses," concluded Rehman.
PPP Secretary Information Dr Nafisa Shah also criticised the PTI government on increasing the prices of petroleum products and depreciation of rupee against dollar. He said that inflation is increasing day by day due to wrong economic polices of the government.
She claimed that the "puppet government" has opened doors of destruction by increasing petrol prices. She said that the increase in petrol prices will make everything expensive.