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

TAXILA, July 1: Politicians, representatives of non- governmental organisations and people from all walks of life have condemned fresh increase in prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene and termed it an anti-people step.

Talking to this reporter on Tuesday, they observed that there was growing antipathy towards the government over the increase in prices of petrol and diesel.

They observed that the increase announced by the government in the POL prices had totally shaken the confidence of the masses that were already crumbling under the huge burden of ever- escalating prices of daily use items.

“The sudden increase in fuel and power charges has come as a rude shock to the salaried and working class who had already been pushed to the wall by the rising cost of living and surging prices of kitchen items,” they said.

They said that the present price hikes in the petroleum products were expected due to rising prices of oil in the international market but it was also bound to severely affect the middle and poor class especially salaried class as it would weaken their purchasing power. They said that the tall claims made by the government to give relief to the masses had proved a farce.

A government employee, Syed Asim Ali said the hike was a burden on the salaried class. “This increase will aggravate the inflationary situation. This has come at a time when people are already grappling with increases in prices of all essential commodities,” he maintained.

“Our salaries were increased by 20 per cent in the budget 2008-09 but a gradual increase in petroleum prices will neutralise the impact of raise in the salary,” he maintained.

Shagufta Perveen, a housewife, said people were committing suicides due to starvation but the government was doing nothing to bring relief to the poor masses.

Ishfaq Khan, Vice President Wapda Pagham Workers Union said “This price hike will have a spiralling impact on inflation. People’s purchasing power is already low and this step would deal a blow to it.”

Sadaqat Ali, a workshop owner in Hassanabdal said the increase in the POL prices would push up the prices of all other items and it would be hard for poor to survive in this situation. “Roti, Kapra Aur Makan was the slogan of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), but present bosses are trying to deprive the masses of bread and butter,” JI General Secretary Rawalpindi district chapter Shamsur Rehman Swati, said.