Mr. Prime Minister, the rapidly increasing prices of electricity, gas, and fuel have made the lives of the common man profoundly miserable. Even the middle class and upper middle class people of this country are finding it extremely difficult to make both ends meet, what to talk of the poor segment of our society who have always been compelled by circumstances to live their lives by the day. You would appreciate, the massive increase in energy prices have a chain (negative) impact on all items of daily consumption. This, obviously, compels the financially hard up people (with ever-shrinking purchasing power) to either buy less or totally give up consumption of things they used to consume before. To be honest, people are being forced by galloping inflation in the economy to constantly look for other available alternatives.
Mr. Prime Minister, the situation is deteriorating post-haste. It is, in fact, worsening by every passing day. The financially-battered people stand pushed against the wall by biting inflation. The prices of all goods and services are briskly rising due to endless increase in energy (electricity, gas and fuel) prices. The patience of the masses stands severely challenged. Frustration of the people has reached its peak. They are left with no option, but to take to the streets to vent their indignation over the menacing increase in energy prices which has made their lives awfully bad.
Mr. Prime Minister, not that I am unaware of the compulsions that leave the government with no option but to frequently raise the energy prices. Following the diktats of the IMF vis-à-vis frequent jacking up of the energy prices is the mother of all the compulsions that the government is having to confront today. The question is, do we have a way out of this vicious circle that we are badly entrapped in? No, we don’t — not as long as we are at the mercy of the IMF.
Who is to be held responsible for the deep mess the country is in today? Do I need to elaborate? No, I don’t. But, for sure, I could say without any hesitation that the utterly exploited people of this country are not. Having said that, I, despite all the limitations enunciated above, urge you Mr. Prime Minister to take immediate remedial measures to provide maximum relief to the masses who are having to face the wrath of the exorbitantly increasing energy prices and galloping inflation in the country.
Needless to say, this perhaps is the only way how the government could bring an end to the ongoing revolt of the masses against rising energy prices. This, perhaps, is also the only way how the government could ensure that the ongoing countrywide protests against the rapidly increasing electricity, gas, and fuel prices does not acquire uncontrollable proportions.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Islamabad
—Email: [email protected]
