KARACHI: All major political parties, both in opposition and within the ruling coalition, lashed out at the government on Friday over “unprecedented and crushing hike in petroleum prices,” warning of a fresh wave of inflation and deepening economic misery for millions.

At a press conference, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Sindh president Haleem Adil Sheikh announced a province-wide protest movement, beginning with a major demonstration at the Karachi Press Club on Sunday at 4pm.

Flanked by party leaders, including Karachi president Raja Azhar and general secretary Arslan Khalid, he termed the latest increase a “petrol bomb” dropped on an already struggling population.

He said the per litre petrol price had surged by Rs137 and diesel by Rs185, pushing prices to Rs458 and Rs520 per litre, respectively, with a “historically unprecedented” increase.

He compared global oil prices, stating that on April 2, 2022, during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, global petrol prices ranged between $105 and $110 per barrel but in Pakistan, it remained at Rs150 per litre. By April 2, 2026, despite tensions between Iran and Israel, global prices were around $107 per barrel, yet prices in Pakistan had surged many times over. Mr Sheikh questioned why the public was bearing such a burden when supplies continued through the Strait of Hormuz.

He said Pakistan now ranks among the most expensive countries for petrol, while neighbouring India charges Rs94 to Rs103 per litre, Bangladesh Rs116, Nepal Rs169, Sri Lanka Rs398, Afghanistan about 61 Afghanis, and Iran Rs10 to Rs15 per litre. Other countries had reduced taxes, but Pakistan increased petrol taxes to Rs160 per litre.

The PTI leader warned that the increase would trigger a 40 per cent to 50pc surge in inflation with transport fares already rising sharply and LPG prices hitting Rs500 per kg. He added that the burden of higher fuel costs would cascade across all sectors from food to agriculture and electricity.

Criticising the government’s economic approach, he accused it of blindly following International Monetary Fund policies and failing to provide relief to citizens. He also highlighted the growing national debt, claiming it had risen dramatically in recent years, leaving every Pakistani heavily in debt.

JI, PML-F condemn decision

Echoing similar sentiments, Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F) secretary general Sardar Abdul Rahim condemned the move as “economic injustice,” saying that it had placed an unbearable burden on citizens already grappling with soaring inflation.

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Karachi chief Monem Zafar Khan, in a press conference at the Idara Noor-i-Haq, delivered a scathing critique of government’s decision, calling it an “economic attack” on the masses.

He said the increase in petrol and diesel prices amounted to “dropping a dirty bomb” on citizens already struggling to afford basic necessities. “Every child in this country is born under a debt burden,” he said, adding that ordinary people were being crushed under inflation while the ruling elite continued to enjoy lavish lifestyles.

Mr Khan criticised “the extravagant spending of those in power”, contrasting it with the hardships faced by citizens who rely heavily on motorcycles and public transport in Karachi. He urged the government to immediately reverse the price hike and adopt austerity measures, warning that public frustration was rapidly intensifying.

‘MQM-P deeply concerned’

The criticism was not limited to opposition parties. In a joint statement, lawmakers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), a key ally of the ruling coalition, expressed “deep concern” over the hike, terming it a direct economic assault on the lower and middle classes.

They warned that the increase would further inflate the prices of essential commodities, pushing already strained households to the brink.

The MQM-P legislators said that the public’s purchasing power had been severely eroded and that additional financial burdens were no longer sustainable. They asked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to immediately withdraw the increase and, instead, expand the tax net to include wealthy individuals who had long escaped adequate taxation.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2026