Hike in POL prices strongly opposed: issue to be raised in National Assembly

Describing the latest hike in petroleum products as a bomb strike on the inflation-stricken masses, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday moved an adjournment motion in the National Assembly saying that the ruthless use of petroleum sector to meet government deficit.
Moved by the party's lawmaker Mrs Nisar Tanveer, the motion was signed by Tahira Aurangzeb, Malik Shakir Bashir Awan, Shireen Arshad Khan, Nighat Parveen Mir, Raja Mohammad Asad Khan and Rana Mehmood-ul-Hassan. The lawmakers, while criticising the government for increase in POL prices, stated that the hike would put further burden on the poor masses, and speaks volume of government inefficiency and bad governance. They said PML-N has time and again called for a clear and rationalised formula for adjusting fuel prices, but, ironically the government failed to take any measure so far.
While flaying the government price adjustment policy, which they termed illogical, they said the government has linked the adjustment with international market. When there is price decrease in the international market, the government never passes on the benefit to consumers and in the event of an increase in world oil prices, the consumers always have to suffer.
The PML-N lawmakers noted that the government was using petroleum sector to reduce its budget deficit by increasing the fuel prices, adding that the government during FY11, had collected Rs 270 billion in taxes only from the petroleum sector and ironically it also imposed general sales tax (GST) on the import of crude oil.
The adjournment motion also pointed out that Federal Excise Duty (FED) is also slapped on the import of crude oil and then on the domestic sale, which is behind comprehension. "It is evident that the government is shifting the burden of its non-seriousness and lack of good governance on the poor masses," the lawmakers noted in the motion, which called for immediate debate on the matter in the upcoming National Assembly session scheduled for Monday.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) strongly condemned the increase in prices of petroleum products and demanded of the government to immediately withdraw the hike. The MQM also decided to submit an adjournment motion in the coming session of the National Assembly against increasing petroleum prices.