KP traders, industrialists slam hike in oil prices, power, gas tariffs

Traders and Industrialists of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have slammed the recent increase in prices of petroleum products and gas and electricity tariffs, saying that the increase would further inflation, hamper business and trade activities and will ultimately lead to unemployment.
The traders warned that they would launch movement against the anti-masses policies of the government and the hike, if the decision were not withdrawn immediately.
The rising prices of petroleum products would hamper business and trade activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has already been severely affected by terrorism and insurgency, said Haji Haleem Jan, Senior Vice President All Pakistan Traders Alliance while talking to Business Recorder.
He said that due to the ongoing militancy and insurgency the business community had badly suffered and the anti-masses policies of the government were further deteriorating the situation.
Haleem Jan demanded of the government to immediately withdraw the recent hike in PoL products' prices and gas and electricity tariffs. He said if their demands were not fulfilled, they would launch agitation against the government's anti-masses policies.
Shafarat Ali Mubarak, Central President Anjuman-e-Tajraan Cantonment, said that the hike in petroleum products' prices was a disappointing step of the government.
He informed that petroleum products' prices had gone up by 37 percent in global market, while in Pakistan the prices were increased by almost 62 percent in the last two months, which was totally unjust and unfair with the poor masses.
Khalid Ayub, President Tajir Ittehad University Town Peshawar said that the government had failed to fulfil its commitment of providing "Roti, Kapra and Makan."
He added that skyrocketing prices of essential commodities had made life of common man miserable.
Afan Aziz, President, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), while rejecting the recent hike in petroleum products, CNG and LPG prices said that the hike would increase inflation, which would ultimately affect poverty-hit masses of the country.
He added that record high prices of POL products would further aggravate the detrimental situation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said economic growth had adversely been suffered by the ongoing militancy in the province and the recent increase in POL products' prices would further decline the growth.
He termed the recent increase in oil price as totally unjustified and not in harmony with the increase in international market.
Aziz said following hike in oil prices, local transporters have also announced increase in public transport fares, which would directly affect the working class.