Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Friday criticised the federal government over the latest increase in petrol and diesel prices, saying the move had added to the heavy burden on households already struggling with rising living costs, 24NewsHD TV reported.
Addressing a meeting of the provincial cabinet in Peshawar, Afridi said nearly 45% of the country’s population had slipped below the poverty line, while the combined pressure of inflation, high fuel costs and currency weakness was becoming unbearable for the poor, middle class and upper middle class alike.
He said the latest fuel hike would trigger further increases in electricity prices, inflation and unemployment, and accused the federal government of relying on “temporary and cosmetic” measures instead of a serious long-term economic strategy.
The chief minister contrasted the current economic situation with the tenure of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying that Pakistan’s economy had been growing at 6.1% despite the global coronavirus pandemic and that relief had been provided to consumers even as international oil prices rose.
He said petrol prices in the past had been kept capped at around 150 rupees per litre. Still, he had now climbed to above 450 rupees per litre, arguing that the continued rise in fuel costs would feed directly into electricity prices, inflation and unemployment.
Afridi said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had introduced relief measures for motorcyclists and farmers, and vowed that additional provincial support measures would be announced soon to shield the public from rising prices.
He also accused the centre of withholding provincial financial rights, saying Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was not receiving its full share under the NFC award, while the merged tribal districts remained financially neglected despite bearing the brunt of militancy, displacement and natural disasters.
Calling for an immediate and comprehensive national economic plan, Afridi said the province would formulate its own crisis management policy and “would not allow the people to be crushed under the burden of inflation.”