FAISALABAD, Oct 16: Strongly opposing hike in petrol prices, people from different walks of life said it would send more people below the poverty line.

MNA-elect Rana Asif Tauseef said the poor had already been finding it hard to make both ends meet. “The fresh increase will force, God forbid, more people to commit suicide due to financial constraints.”

He urged the government to reduce the number of taxes on POL products.

Punjab PPP Secretary-General and MPA-elect Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan criticized the OCAC move. “The government as well as other agencies engaged in oil trade have been earning a lot but no relief is being given to the people,” he added.

He said ever-increasing cost of utilities, including power, gas, phone and water, would de-industrialize the country which would result in alarming joblessness.

The president, Farmers Association Faisalabad, Mian Tahir Saeed said the government was ruining the economy to please donors.

He said the farmers were already purchasing farm inputs and tube well water at higher rates due to costly diesel and power.

Local Anjuman Tajiran head Sheikh Taj Mehmood and different NGOs also criticized the government.