By: Dr. Asim
Aside from the debate over whether to import oil from Russia and Iran or from the Gulf States, the issue for the general population of Pakistan has always been a sudden surge in petroleum products. This is the first time in the economic history of Pakistan that the present government has increased the prices of petroleum products so drastically that the entire market economy has come to a standstill.
A statement issued by Dr. Muhammad Asim during a meeting of Petrol Pumps Dealers Association District Lodhran. He further said that “If government desires to put taxes on petroleum products or wants to collect revenue by increasing in petroleum prices, fifty paisa or one rupee could be increased on a daily basis. This policy can protect the society from a sudden storm of inflation at the grass root level, and life would have continued as usual. But, sudden increment indicates that ruling elite might be having an aim of installing artificial civil war. Therefore, they are not considering any rational policy as per the economic principles.
Likewise, Petrol Pumps Dealers Association urges government regarding not to announce the price hike before 12:00 am midnight. This is because, pre-12 announcement starts an anarchist storm of gushy public at petrol pumps. In many areas, especially in South Punjab, rural Sindh and some areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; people containing household utensils arrive at petrol pumps, with the belief that petrol may be pouring out naturally from the ground. In addition with, on the day the price goes up, the oil marketing companies either cut off the supply from noon onwards, or completely off their connections with the petrol pumps. As a result, petrol pump owners suffer a double whammy. On the other hand, situation goes more badly when Assistant Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners, instead of inquiring from the oil marketing companies or asking from OGRA, do not hesitate to take pride in imposing heavy fines on the petrol pump owners by irrationally considering them the cause of all such hurricanes. Similarly, neither District Police Officers nor SHOs provide any security to petrol pumps in such conditions; would causing any disastrous event.
Hence, Petrol Pumps Dealers Association unanimously demands the government for a) to increase the petroleum products prices gradually at “per-day increment” (if it is needed), b) announce prices increment not before 12:00 am, c) appoint any economic expert having specialization in “resistive economy” as a finance minister, d) similar to China, India and Afghanistan, Pakistan must purchase petroleum products from regional markets of Iran and Russia, and e) increase in margin of petroleum dealers as per promise and as per current inflation rate. Otherwise, it would be impossible to sustain market economy when super taxes and new electricity rates are going to trigger poverty along with unemployment rate in the state.
