July 02, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 27, 1429

KHAIRPUR July 1: Underprivileged, labourers and farmers are facing more financial crunch after recent increase in oil and gas prices.

Labour leaders, Muttahida Mazdoor Federation Khairpur, Shahbaz Dino Phulpoto, Amjad Lashari, Fayaz Abbasi and Arab Khoso said substantial hike in oil prices had forced transporters to raise fares in accordance thus leading to rate rise in vegetables, fruits and other items transported between Khairpur and Sukkur.

They said likewise rickshaw fare from Khairpur city to railway station was being charged Rs12 per person as potatoes too have skyrocketed with an increase of Rs5 per kilogram for being transported from Sukkur to Khairpur.

A pushcart vegetable seller Ramzan Mangi told that the fare from Sabzi Mandi Khairpur to vegetable market had increased from Rs5 to Rs10. Besides, transport fares, prices of different commodities too were going up.

Transport fares for different towns Thari Mirwah, Faiz Gunj, Ranipur, Gambat, and others had been increased by Rs5-10 adding further to the miseries of poor people. Prices of wheat flour, rice and other items had gone beyond the reach of people.

Riaz Solangi from Faiz Gunj said the wheat flour was sold at Rs27 per kilogram in the town on Tuesday. Social worker Shakir Shah said that the increase in oil prices had added worries of farmers because it would cause an increase in the prices of fertilizers and tube-wells expenses.

A wagon owner Sanaullah Memon said that after the increase in gas prices, the rate of CNG had also been increased.