ISLAMABAD, Jan 09 (TNS): Anguished transports have demanded increase in fares in accordance with the recent price hike of petroleum to allow them to come out of loses and miseries they are facing after Gov’t implemented new prices from 1st January.
Talking to TNS team the transporters in bursting anger and desperation have stated that frequent increase in fuel price had adverse impact on their lives as it has a cascading effect on the prices of essential commodities due to most of them have been rendered unable to feed their families.
They said that they are in such dire straits that many of them spent nights in their vehicles or in open on the roadsides.
Hitting out at the Government, the transporters have warned that if the gov’t has not allowed them to increase fares or failed to come up with subsidizing measures or any relief package for them then they would be prompted to take extreme steps which would vary from strikes to burning their vehicles.
“Even we won’t hesitate to go for collective suicides”. They warned in desperation
Pertinent to mention here that the falling value of rupee against the US dollar and the rising price of crude oil in the international market has impacted the economy badly, therefore, the regulatory body at the dead end of 2017 had suggested the federal government to increase petroleum products’ prices temporarily to tackle the instability.
Due to the influence of Pakistani rupee’s falling value on the economy, OGRA had recommended following increments:
- Rs. 5.20 per liter in petrol prices,
- Rs. 4.50 per liter in high-speed diesel (HSD) prices,
- Rs. 6.00 per liter in light diesel oil (LDO), and
- Rs. 10.00 per liter in kerosene oil prices.
The federal government approves these recommendations made by OGRA and implemented new prices just at the commencement of New Year I’e January 1, 2018.
Apart from rupee devaluation in Pakistan, the crude oil has seen a price hike of $2 per barrel internationally in the month of December.
The local currency was depreciated suddenly on December 13 when the central bank withdrew its support.
