POL price hike frays public temper

RAWALPINDI, May 1: As the fresh increase in petroleum prices started showing its impact on rates of daily-use items; people especially those from the salaried and working class termed it a mini-budget and asked the government to revise its decision otherwise they would take to the streets. The petrol and diesel prices have been jacked up to Rs88.41 per litre and Rs97.31 respectively. As a result, grains, vegetables, fruits, beef, mutton, chicken and spices were sold at 'revised rates' with stallholders at weekly bazaars attributing the new rates to the hike in POL prices. Talking to Dawn, shoppers at the weekly bazaars said people, especially the salaried and working class, were finding it difficult to make ends meet. They said the inflation bomb had broken their financial back and it was hard to manage their household budgets. "Is it a democratic government which is increasing petroleum prices so often? This so-called people's representative government is trying to kill the masses economically," said Faizan Ahmed, a shopper at the Committee Chowk weekly bazaar. He said the tariffs of gas and electricity had already touched new height and after the surge in petroleum prices utility services would be made more expensive. Yusra Ahmed said the price hike was forcing people to buy substandard food items from these weekly bazaars. She said there was not a single political party in the country which wanted to provide relief to the people. Ms Ahmed said her husband and she worked day and night to earn bread for their children but the rising inflation had made their lives difficult. The agitated woman was unsure whether the government had any plan to check the ever increasing price hike in the country. During a visit to weekly bazaars, this reporter observed that rates of vegetables, fruits and essential food items had gone up. These included potatoes, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, green pepper, fruits such as apples, guava and banana and poultry products. Onion was selling at Rs90 per five kg compared to last week's Rs70 per five kg, potato at Rs120 five per kg against last week's Rs110 per five kg, tomato at Rs24 per kg compared to last week's Rs20 per kg, lemon at Rs140 per kg compared to last week's Rs84 per kg, bitter gourd at Rs50 compared to last week's Rs40 per kg, green pepper at Rs40 compared to last week's Rs30 per kg, brinjle at Rs20 compared to Rs12 per kg and turnip at Rs15 per kg against last week's Rs10 per kg. Apples were available at Rs120 per kg compared to last week's Rs110 per kg, mango (India) at Rs230 per kg compared to last week's Rs200 per kg, bananas at Rs55per dozen against last week's Rs50 per dozen, guavas at Rs65 per kg compared to last week's Rs50 per kg and cantaloupe at Rs40 per kg compared to Rs30 per kg last week. ATTOCK: People from all walks of life here on Sunday condemned the latest increase in POL prices and power tariffs. The low-paid employees and workers said the government had no right to take anti-public steps like increasing prices of gas, electricity and petroleum products after each passing day. They said increase in oil prices and power rates could create unrest in the country as it would result in increase in prices of all consumer goods and cerate problems. They said all political parties should raise voice against the price hikes. Jamaat-i-Islami Attock leader Malik Iqbal slammed the government for raising oil prices and said the government had enhanced POL and power rates at the behest of foreign monetary institutions only to protect its own interests. Chairman Muttahida Mehnatkash Mahaz Rana Liaquat Ali Khan also condemned the raise in POL prices and said the increase had made the life of the common man miserable. Social activist Rana Shaukat said the frequent increase in the prices of petroleum products, electricity and gas was tantamount to rubbing salt on the injuries of people who were already reeling under the sky-rocketing inflation.