IN view of present situation in the region, it is necessary to monitor fuel prices on a daily basis instead of fortnightly. However, in case of minor reduction in prices, ranging from a few paisas to a few rupees, the government should keep the prices unchanged instead of trying to earn some political mileage out of ‘reduced’ petrol prices. This looks more like a publicity stunt than anything else. Will the common man on a motorcycle, getting one litre of petrol paying over Rs300, appreciate saving of 35 paisas, or will a vehicle-owner getting 30 litres for Rs10,000 and saving Rs10 celebrate this ‘reduced’ price?

Furthermore, people do not witness serious efforts by government officials to bring the fuel consumption down. We continue to watch every day in amazement as VIP motorcades comprising several protocol vehicles pass through. We need to change this culture of power display. We should, instead, opt for simplicity and ensure that we save foreign exchange for strengthening the national economy.

Akber D. Vazir
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2026