KARACHI: Leaders of the All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders and Cottage Industries, Karachi Division, have rejected the Prime Minister’s announcement of Rs80 reduction in petroleum prices, demanding instead that prices be rolled back to the level seen 20 days ago by withdrawing all recent increases.
In a statement on Saturday, night, the organization’s Karachi Division President Mahmood Hamid, Senior Vice President Syed Liqat Ali, Vice Presidents Javed Abdullah and Syed Naveed Ahmed, and General Secretary Usman Sharif described the recent Rs147 and Rs55 per litre hike in petrol prices as a “suicide attack on trade and the economy.”
The traders termed the Rs80 cut a “mockery with the public and traders” and said they would not accept what they called a “lollypop” announcement. They warned of launching a nationwide movement against the price hike.
The leaders questioned who was responsible for the increase, noting that PML-N leaders Rana Sanaullah and the Sindh Governor have denied responsibility, while PPP leaders have also condemned the hike and announced a campaign against it. “If both ruling parties are against this increase, then which power has imposed this exorbitant hike?” they asked.
They further argued that the government had claimed to have 28 days of oil reserves, in addition to cheaper oil from Saudi Arabia and Iran, and that two Pakistani ships had already brought oil through the Strait of Hormuz. “Why then are prices being raised on the pretext of a global increase?” they asked.
The traders warned that the hike would not only deprive people of their right to survival but also make it difficult to earn foreign exchange, as production costs would rise sharply, making Pakistani goods uncompetitive in global markets.
They criticized government spending, pointing to the Punjab Chief Minister’s purchase of an Rs11 billion aircraft, Rs90 million car for the Senate chairman, and Rs520 billion worth of free petrol and electricity for the elite. “Instead of burdening the public, the government should end its extravagance,” they said, adding that protocols of 40 vehicles per VIP and expensive cars are sinking Pakistan’s economy.
Regarding the provincial government’s announcement of a Rs2,000 subsidy for motorcyclists, the leaders called it a joke, saying, “A government that cannot even provide number plates for vehicles and motorcycles years after collecting taxes cannot give any real subsidy to the public and transporters.”
They reiterated that their only demand is the withdrawal of the “oppressive price hike” and practical implementation of austerity measures, not just announcements. The leaders said consultations among traders are ongoing, and they will soon announce a three-day strike, a nationwide protest movement, or sit-ins.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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