Traders have criticised the Nepra and Ogra in fixing power and fuel oil rates and slammed the government for retaining the fuel oil prices at a higher rate despite the world market had plunged its prices to the 13-year lowest level. Similarly, Nepra has failed to recommend reduction in power rates, they said. "These authorities are numb at all, although the fuel oil prices have fallen to the bottom on the world market," Chairman All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, Atiq Mir said on Saturday.
If the fuel oil prices had shot up globally the prices of power and oil would have gone up manifold, he added. He said that the government's policies are not meant to provide relief to the public and the traders, adding that the weak economy and growing unemployment needed the authorities to equate the fuel oil prices with those of the world market.
"There is a question over the Nepra and Ogra rules which they follow in fixing rates of fuel oil and power keeping in view the global market fluctuations. If global market goes up, they go for a rise but when it comes down they are silent," he said. He also criticised the government for ignoring the development of Karachi and sparing its focus for other parts of the country to ensure uplift. "We are left at the mercy of K-Electric," he said, adding that although the traders of the metropolis are contributing more to the national economy.