Citizens Action Committee Chairman Zaheer Ahmed Awan has strongly criticized the government over the recent hike in petroleum prices, warning it will trigger further inflation and increase difficulties for ordinary citizens already burdened by rising utility bills and taxes.
Speaking at the Public Complaints Cell on Zafar-ul-Haq Road in Rawalpindi, Chairman Zaheer Ahmed Awan demanded an immediate reduction in petroleum prices. He noted the government had already shown its incompetence in controlling inflation, and said that any further increase in fuel prices would worsen the financial hardships faced by the people.
“The public is already overwhelmed by soaring electricity and gas bills, coupled with increased taxes,” he said. According to Awan, any hike in petroleum prices inevitably leads to artificial inflation across the entire country. Such increases immediately affect prices of food items, daily essentials, transportation fares, and house rents, making life increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens.
Criticizing the ineffective measures by the Price Control Magistrates, he noted authorities merely conduct perfunctory actions on paper and distribute official lists detailing government-controlled prices, yet there is no practical enforcement of these regulations. “Citizens remain helpless and are often forced to buy everyday commodities at inflated rates,” Awan added.
He expressed deep concern over the hardships faced by ordinary families, stating, “At present, ordinary citizens hardly manage to afford a simple meal. Meeting expenses such as house rent, electricity, gas, water bills, and children’s education have become nearly impossible. Meanwhile, rulers have conveniently raised their own salaries and obtained numerous benefits from the national exchequer, leaving the people increasingly poor.”
The Citizens Action Committee Chairman demanded that the government prioritize citizen welfare by controlling inflation, reducing petroleum prices, and enforcing price regulations more stringently to alleviate the public’s plight.
