ISLAMABAD: The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s latest austerity measures as superficial, saying the government should have cut the petroleum levy by at least Rs21 per litre to ease rising economic pressures on masses.
In a statement, PTI spokesman Sheikh Waqas Akram accused the government of recklessly increasing the burden on ordinary citizens rather than implementing any meaningful or effective relief measures.
He said the latest rise in petroleum levies and indirect taxes came at a time when global tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States could push oil prices higher, further straining Pakistan’s economy.
“The government has chosen to further squeeze the masses through higher petroleum levies,” he said.
He contrasted the government’s austerity rhetoric with reports of extravagant spending by political leaders, citing a 14-hour luxury flight to Vienna by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, which he said cost between $12,000 and $15,000 per hour, excluding other expenses. He described the trip as inconsistent with the government’s announced ban on official foreign tours.
He also argued that economic management, rather than restrictions on offices, schools, and universities, is the main challenge facing the country.
He called for “concrete and visible steps” to address inflation and economic hardship, and highlighted former prime minister Imran Khan’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of balancing public health and economic stability.
Akram further criticised the government for pursuing what he described as politically motivated cases against PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, and called for the former prime minister’s access to medical care and immediate release from detention.
He said that the government’s approach reflected “desperation to silence the largest political force in the country” and urged reforms prioritising public welfare over the interests of the ruling elite.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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