LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) General Secretary Salman Akran Raja rejected the recent hike in the prices of petroleum products, saying the government may claim that these price hikes are due to the Iran war, but that narrative does not hold up, as petrol prices have not risen in neighbouring countries.
While addressing a press conference here on Friday, he pointed out that the hike in petrol prices was made to generate extra revenue after increasing the Petroleum Development Levy on petrol. “This increase will disrupt the entire system, leading to a rise in the cost of living. The PTI will soon give a protest call and will invite the business community, farmers, labourers and others to join their agitation against inflation. The PTI is also holding an All-Party Conference in a few days to deliberate on the prevailing economic chaos in the country,” he added.
He pointed out that when the PTI was removed from power in April 2022, the price of petrol was Rs 150. “Since then, the prices of petroleum products have reached the highest levels in history. Today, the country is facing an unprecedented crisis,” he said.
He pointed out that “currently, the majority of our budget relies on taxing the poor,” adding that Pakistan has a regressive taxation system, which puts an extra financial burden on common people that they cannot bear, while giving relief to the wealthy class. “The existing system has been designed to make the poor poorer while enriching the wealthy and we will not allow this to continue,” he added.
The PTI senior leader observed that “even today, 40 percent of the population is suffering from malnutrition due to a lack of basic food resources.” He noted that it is ironic to see a plane and a luxury car being provided for the Chairman of the Senate while they claim to be practising austerity. “How can they justify this? There is no poverty in this country; rather, the people are being robbed. When they say politics is unnecessary and that the state is essential, what they really mean is that Pakistan has a system of oppression,” he added.
“On February 8, they did not just disregard the vote; they disregarded your critical thinking. The PTI remains the majority party, representing people from all races and backgrounds. It is the representatives of the people who should determine who is taxed and who is not. We must take to the streets against this inflation, as it is the common people who are affected the most. We will come together with full strength to stand against this oppressive system; we need a revolution to change the suppressive system,” he added.
On this occasion, Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader, Moin Riaz Qureshi, also rejected the recent hike in pol prices. He asked the government, “If ships carrying petrol are arriving in Pakistan every day, then why the price of petrol is still increasing?” He urged everyone to speak out on rising petrol prices. He advised the government to consider stop using their planes and vehicles to save petrol and instead use these resources to benefit the people.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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