Leading trading and transport bodies overwhelmingly rejected massive increase in petroleum prices

Lahore: (Staff Reporter) Leading trading and transport bodies in the country overwhelmingly rejected a massive increase in the prices of petroleum products announced by the federal government. Transporters also announced hike in intercity and intra city fares and warned of shutting down transport if the government created any hurdles.

According to the source, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced an increase in the price of petrol and diesel by Rs.35. Traders Association of Pakistan President Kashif Chaudhry, in a statement, said they rejected Rs35 per litre increase in the prices of petrol and diesel, saying the latest increase would bring a flood of inflation in the country.

As per details, he demanded that the government immediately roll back the hike in petrol and diesel prices. Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance president and MPA from Sindh Malik Shahzad Awan also rejected the increase in petrol and diesel prices, saying the price of petrol and diesel had been increased by Rs.35 each. He said after consulting all the transporters a plan of action would be announced later.

Furthermore he said the policies of the imported government have brought Pakistan to the brink of ruin. Awan said the time had come to take to the streets against the government, adding the priorities of the imported government were to create anti-people policies.

Meanwhile, the general secretary of Tajran Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zahir Shah said the increase in the prices of petroleum products would bring a new storm of inflation, urging the government to withdraw record increase in the prices of petrol and diesel.

Meanwhile APPTOF announced 10% increase in intercity fares

The All Pakistan Public Transport Owners Federation (APPTOF) announced 10 per cent increase in the intercity fares following a massive hike in the petroleum prices.

According to the federation’s spokesman, the participants of the meeting opined that considerable increase in diesel prices would destroy the transport system across the country.

Moreover the spokesman said the fare for Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan from Lahore had been increased by Rs.100; Lahore to Gujranwala Rs.50, Lahore to Sadiqabad Rs.200; and the fare for Lahore to Karachi had been increased by Rs.600.