The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) today announced a nationwide protest movement after condemning what it termed a ‘petrol bomb and atomic bomb’ unleashed on the public, following a record overnight surge in petroleum prices.
At a press conference, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, flanked by other party leaders, declared that a major protest against the steep price rise would be held at the Karachi Press Club on Sunday at 4 pm, and urged citizens to participate in large numbers.
The party announced further demonstrations, including a protest outside Adiala Jail on April 7 and a ‘Black Day’ rally at Liaqat Bagh, Rawalpindi, on April 9, which is expected to draw participants from across Sindh.
Haleem Adil Sheikh criticised the administration for the price escalation, noting petrol had risen by Rs137 to Rs458 per litre and diesel by Rs185 to Rs520 per litre. He highlighted that from 1947 to 2022, the price of petrol had reached only Rs150 per litre, whereas the current government had elevated it to Rs458 in just three years.
He drew a comparison with global oil prices, stating that while a barrel of oil cost between $105 and $110 in April 2022 with domestic petrol at Rs150, the current global price of around $107 a barrel has resulted in a disproportionately higher cost for Pakistani consumers.
According to Sheikh, Pakistan now ranks among the nations with the most expensive fuel. He pointed out that neighbouring countries offered significantly lower prices, citing India (Rs94-103), Bangladesh (Rs116), and Iran (Rs10-15), while noting the Pakistani government had increased fuel taxes to Rs160 per litre.
Sheikh calculated that with national fuel consumption at approximately 18 billion litres per year, the latest price hikes could impose an additional burden of nearly Rs6,000 billion on the public. He warned this would drive inflation up by another 40-50%, citing that goods transport fares had already increased by 70%.
He accused the government of adhering to IMF policies instead of providing public relief, labelling subsidies for motorcycles and transport as ineffective and susceptible to corruption, while alleging continued lavish state spending on luxury items.
The PTI leader also commented on the national economy, stating the debt had soared from Rs44 trillion in April 2022 to Rs80.5 trillion, raising the debt per citizen to approximately Rs325,000.
Karachi President Raja Azhar echoed these sentiments, calling the price hike a ‘petrol bomb’ on the people and criticising officials who previously protested minor increases but are now silent. He urged the government to end lavish privileges and repatriate wealth from abroad.
Speaking on the city”s condition, General Secretary Arslan Khalid lamented that recent rains had submerged Karachi, causing multiple fatalities and exposing the failure of high-cost infrastructure projects. He noted the March 19 rain alone had resulted in 19 deaths.
Khalid criticised the state of incomplete development projects, deteriorating roads, and inadequate health and education facilities, describing Karachi as a ‘golden bird’ being plundered despite contributing 90% of Sindh’s revenue.
He claimed that major development projects initiated during Imran Khan’s tenure, including the K-IV project and the Green Line, have been halted by the current administration.