May 17, 2002	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 4, 1423

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FAISALABAD, May 16: All strata of people, including politicians, traders and transporters, have termed the increase in prices of petroleum products inimical to the national economy.

They demanded the government to evolve a comprehensive strategy for fixing the prices of POL products instead of leaving the people at the mercy of oil companies’ advisory committee.

PPP divisional coordinator Raja Riaz Ahmed said that rulers had miserably failed in resolving problems of the people while petroleum prices were being increased fortnightly without any justification.

He asked the government to cut down its non-developmental expenditures and pay attention to national issues.

PML-N former MPAs Rana Sanaullah Khan and Rana Muhammad Afzal said the Musharraf government had become a tool in the hands of international forces. The petroleum prices and tariffs of utility services were being increased despite the fact that youths were committing suicides due to financial problems and price-hike.

They said 5 to 18 per cent increase in POL products had exposed the government’s efficiency. This would crush the backbone of the poor people who were already under severe financial crunch.

All Pakistan Anjuman Tajiran central chairman Mian Abdul Mannan said the recent increase in POL prices would force them to close their business.

Critisizing the decision of the government, city transporters said they had left with no option but to increase fares in the wake of increase in POL prices.

TOBA TEK SINGH: Politicians condemned raise in the prices of petroleum products and electricity tariff.

Former MNA from Gojra, M. Hamza, said the rulers have mortgaged the country to the IMF and the World Bank. The present wave of price hike was the result of implementing the instructions of international financial institutions.

He feared that the price hike was leading the poor towards vandalism and the country to civil war. He warned the rulers to refrain from making decision which were against the national interest.

National Workers Party’s Punjab president Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad said the increase in power tariff and diesel price would put further burden on the shoulders of farmers which were already facing great financial loss.

Millat Party executive committee member Ghiasuddin Janbaz said the increase in diesel and electricity rates would result in the price hike of all commodities.

PML(N) central leader and former MNA from Kamalia, Chaudhry Asadur Rehman, opposed the hike in the power tariff and diesel price and demanded their immediate withdrawal.

GUJRANWALA: Transporters and commuters have expressed resentment over an increase in petrol prices.

The transporters demanded that fares should also be enhanced in accordance with POL product prices.

On the other hand, the commuters said transporters had already been overcharging on various pretexts. They demanded that a raise in fares should not be allowed.