Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Sindh Vice President Rizwan Niazi on Monday voiced profound apprehension regarding the continuous escalation of petroleum prices and accelerating inflation, attributing the situation to what he described as the flawed policies of the current administration that have propelled inflation to unprecedented levels.
Niazi alleged that the government was “looting the public” through the imposition of substantial levy taxes, highlighting that petrol, now priced at Rs153 per litre, had become an additional financial strain on citizens. He drew a contrast with the PTI government’s tenure, during which, he asserted, the levy tax was reduced to zero amidst the Covid-19 crisis to offer relief to the populace.
The PTI leader stated that the sharp surge in petroleum costs had directly resulted in a significant increase in the price of essential food items. This, he claimed, has pushed nearly half of the nation”s populace below the poverty threshold, severely eroding their purchasing capability.
He further asserted that the national economy, which had reportedly achieved a growth rate of 6.7 per cent under former prime minister Imran Khan’s leadership, had subsequently plummeted to below 1.6 per cent. Niazi added that the country had accumulated deeper domestic and external debt, with the average citizen now burdened by over Rs350,000 in liabilities.
In his critique of the government”s strategies, Niazi lamented that the common person was struggling to afford even two meals daily. He also alleged the suppression of the public’s voice, the ‘theft’ of their vote, and the disregard for the electoral mandate, which he linked to the exacerbation of the economic downturn.
Rizwan Niazi urged for respect towards public sentiment and the electoral mandate, demanding the immediate release of Imran Khan and the reinstatement of elected representatives to the assemblies.
He concluded with a caution, stating that if the prevailing circumstances persisted, citizens would encounter even more severe hardships in the forthcoming days.