'POL prices hike termed petrol-diesel bomb'

People here have rejected the recent enhancement in POL prices describing it 'dropping petrol-diesel bomb' on consumers. They organised a big rally at Chungi no. 9 under the auspices of Mutahidda Shehri Mahaz led by Tariq Naeemullah Khan. The demonstrators shouted slogans 'Down with Central Government, Down with Zardari, Down with Gilani, Slaves of IMF are unacceptable'.
Addressing the rally, Naeemullah said the present regime has added to the miseries of the common man by increasing the prices of petroleum products, revising power and gas tariff. He said that present regime has failed to stabilise economy and reduce inflation because it has introduced "debt economy". Naveed Hashmi, Ch. Nisar Ahmed, Sajawal Khan, Hafiz Aabid, Jamshed Tareen, Shahid Shah, Haq Nawaz Vance also spoke on the occasion.
The business community, also, strongly reacted on the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products describing it unjust and detrimental to the industry as well as traders. They said it would also hit the mediocre that use motorcycles or rickshaws etc and transporters would increase the fare. The community criticised the government for making bulk increase in petroleum prices and termed it a very bad news for the country's economy, which was already facing a number of challenges.
Multan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) called for withdrawal of increase in petroleum prices to strengthen the industry and trade activities, and provide some relief to the common man. In a statement here on Saturday, President MCCI, Mian Anis' A Sheikh warned that without industrial growth, the country would be facing more economic and social problems. He added that government has to work out a long-term plan for POL, energy solution and revenue generation.
He furthered that government regulators (Ogra and Nepra) should take care of the country's economy since a strong economy is the only solution to all problems. He said that the business community has been crying for reduction in the power and gas tariffs along-with their smooth supply, cut in POL prices so that industry could grow and become cost competitive in the regional and international markets. He also said the burden of taxes over trade and industries would affect the economy of the country.
He said that unemployment in the country is a very serious problem and imposition of new taxes and increase in POL prices would increase unemployment, leading to many social problems. The leadership urged the authorities to take necessary measures to control smuggling of goods allegedly in the name of Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) which is a great loss to the national exchequer.
Chairman of APBUMA, Syed Muhammad Aasim Shah while strongly reacting on this anti-industry and anti-masses decision, said that government did not bother to pass on the benefit of decrease of oil prices in international market and earned billion rupees, which was a sheer injustice and now made a huge raise in the petroleum prices. He said that APBUMA had for the last many months been calling on the concerned government circles to take measures for the promotion of alternate fuels as trade deficit was fast widening due to heavy imports under the head of petroleum products.
He said that the timeline for the increase in the prices of petroleum products was also raising questions. He said that at a time when the whole industry was suffering due to energy crisis and high cost of doing business, the raise in POL prices is bound to give a further blow to the industry. He demanded of the government to remove the carbon tax right now otherwise the industry would collapse within no time.