As the United States and Iran persist with their escalatory posturing and mediation is paused, the Government has sensitized people of Pakistan about the challenges ahead and as usual, expecting them to offer sacrifices once again. This is evident from the remarks made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while presiding over a meeting on Thursday to review the impact of regional tensions on Pakistan’s economy and reports on austerity and cost-saving measures. He appreciated the public for their wholehearted support during the previous national austerity and conservation campaign and directed all relevant authorities to remain fully prepared to address any potential challenges.
It is a reality that people of Pakistan suffered hugely due to the mindless pursuit of the Government not only to pass on any increase in the prices of oil in the international market but also earn unprecedented profits by way of increased taxes and petroleum levy on petrol and diesel. The common man was left at the mercy of the circumstances and recourse to the same approach and policy will add to the miseries of the people. The Government is under the false impression about the effective and timely nature of the measures it introduced from the very start of the Gulf war in February, which, it believes, ensured efficient management of the fuel supply situation. The fuel supply situation might have remained stable but at unbearable cost for the consumer and windfall profits for oil marketing companies and petrol pumps, which earned billions overnight on existing stocks and were effectively protected by the authorities concerned by limiting the relief for consumers when due. It is also ironic that the Government has not learnt any lesson from its flawed policy of deriving satisfaction by providing subsidies on motorcycles, rickshaws and transporters. There are genuine complaints that these subsidies did not reach the deserving segments of the population and transporters minted money on both ends – received the subsidy from the Government and even then increased fares/transportation charges phenomenally. Repetition of the scheme will amount to sheer wastage of money and instead the Government should keep such allocations to it and reduce the rate of taxes and petroleum levy to provide genuine relief across the board.
