ISLAMABAD, Feb 2: The unprecedented increase in petrol prices within a short span of time has met severe criticism from people, particularly those belonging to the lower middle class.

The Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) on Tuesday again raised the petrol prices by Rs2 per litre - from Rs40.39 to Rs42.39 per litre. The OCAC has also enhanced rates of kerosene oil, HOBC and light diesel oil (LDO) by Re1 to Rs2.73 per litre.

In the last one month, petrol prices have increased from Rs36 to Rs42.39 per litre. Three oil marketing companies - Pakistan State Oil, Shell Pakistan and Caltex Oil Pakistan - have also raised the price of high speed diesel by 95 paisas, from Rs26.21 to Rs27.16 per litre.

So much so, whenever, there is an increase in petrol prices, vegetable and fruit sellers, without any formal approval, review their price lists and immediately shift the burden to the buyers.

Majority of the motorists who cannot afford petrol-run vehicles have converted to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). However, motorcyclists have no other option but to use petrol for their mobility.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Mubashar, a lecturer at a local public sector university, said: "I had bought a 70cc bike on instalments a couple of months ago, but with skyrocketing oil prices, I am thinking to buy a bicycle instead."

"I don't know what has gone wrong with the government and what it is up to. With no reasonable increase in the income of salaried class, everyday expenditures at household level are getting out of proportion," he added.

Over the years, purchasing power of the masses is on the decline in the country and with such decisions, the government is leaving no stone unturned to further widen the gap between rich and the poor.

As a result, with every passing day, the middle class of the country is finding it difficult to make both ends meet, Mr Nabeel told this reporter. "We have no concern with macro-economic indicators and increasing foreign exchange reserves of the country, which every now and then the government boasts about," he said.

Though the government claims to have revived the national economy, it has miserably failed to provide any conspicuous relief to the poor. "It makes no difference for the masses if the country's exports are on the rise or if the government has stopped taking help of the International Monitory Fund (IMF) to run its economy. People will be satisfied only if they are provided with relief, Mr Nabeel said.