KARACHI, March 16: The Pakistan People’s Party, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and transport organizations on Sunday condemned the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products, saying it would have crippling effects on the common man.

In a statement, the Acting Secretary-General of the PPP, Mian Raza Rabbani, said the unprecedented increase in petroleum prices showed the anti-people attitude of the PML-Q government.

According to him, the overall increase in petroleum prices would have an adverse effect on agriculture, industry, exports and the sagging economy would move further towards stagnation.

Criticizing the Oil Companies’ Advisory Committee (OCAC), he maintained that during the last 30 days, prices of diesel had been raised by Rs4.27 a litre, petrol by Rs4.15 and kerosene oil by Rs3.30.

Mr Rabbani said the upward revision in the prices of petroleum products would have a snowballing effect and price index of all commodities would register a further increase.

He stated that the salaried and working class were worst hit by these increases, as their household budgets within 15 days had been shattered and their economic backbone broken.

The PPP leader maintained that it also reflected the failure of the PML-Q government’s policy in terms of purchasing and maintaining oil reserves at the old rates and negotiating with the Muslim oil-producing countries to give preferential prices to Pakistan.

“People of Pakistan are crippled by the economic policies being implemented since Oct 12, 1999, on the directions of donor agencies,” he said.

The PPP leader said he would raise the issue in the Senate and expose the OCAC, which is working to maximize its profits at the cost of the working class.

MMA: The MMA has termed the unprecedented increases in petroleum prices ‘anti-people policy’ of the regime, saying the people have already been facing poverty, unemployment and price-hikes.