PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party has expressed its concern over the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products and asked the federal government to take immediate steps for controlling prices of essential commodities.

Addressing a public meeting at Faqir Kallay here on Saturday, QWP provincial chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao expressed his concern over the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products and called it an unfair development. He described it a sheer injustice with the poor people and said his party always raised voice in public support and it would continue to criticise wrong policies of the rulers.

The QWP provincial chief urged the federal government to reverse the decision as early as possible, adding that agreements made by the previous Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government with IMF had created financial problems for the people.

He said that people were well aware of difficult times and its causes. He said that one of the major reasons for the ongoing inflation was the deal contracted by the previous government.

Sikandar Sherpao lamented that the Shehbaz Sharif-led government had significantly increased the prices of petroleum products which would directly impact the low-income people.

He asked the federal government to adopt austerity measures and take steps to alleviate the plight of the poor on urgent basis otherwise the low-income group would be unable to lead life with honour. He asked the government to take immediate steps for controlling price hike.

According to a statement, several people, including Aamir Habib, Kamran Khan, Asad Khan, Mohammad Hussain, Wali Khan, Mohibullah Kaka, Haleem Khan, Adnan Khan, Shaukat Khan, Tariq Khan and Gul Mohammad, joined QWP on this occasion.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2022