PESHAWAR: Protest rallies were staged in various areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against sharp rise in the prices of the petroleum products on Friday with the trade leaders in the provincial capital terming the move an economic blow to the economy.
The recent sharp increase in petroleum prices by the federal government has triggered strong anger among the trader community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with business leaders terming the move an economic blow to the already struggling economy.
The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed dismay over yet another record increase of petrol Rs458.40 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) Rs520.35 per litre, marking the highest rates in the country’s history.
SCCI president Junaid Altaf, senior vice-president Muhammad Nadeem and vice president Sabir Ahmad Bangash along with rest of the member of the chamber’s executive committee termed it a highly ‘unfair’ decision in the prevailing uncertain situation and urged the government to revert it in best interest of national economy, business and industrial growth.
Traders Organization Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Peshawar Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries also rejected the massive increase in petrol and diesel prices, describing it as an “economic suicide attack” on businesses and the public.
They stated that the increase of Rs137.23 per litre in petrol and Rs184.49 per litre in diesel would severely damage the industrial sector, which is already facing challenges due to high electricity bills and law and order concerns. According to the traders, the additional burden of diesel prices would make it nearly impossible for factories to continue production, raising fears of widespread industrial shutdowns and large-scale unemployment.
Trader leaders further said that diesel prices directly affect transportation costs, and the recent hike would inevitably increase freight charges, doubling the cost of transporting raw materials to factories. This, they warned, would disrupt supply chains and make it difficult to deliver goods to wholesale and retail markets.
In Peshawar, a protest rally was taken out from the Jamaat-i-Islami’s district office in Nishtarabad, which was led by district president of the party, Bahrullah Khan and other leaders. The protest rally was converted into a public gathering at Nishtarabad Chowk.
Addressing the protestors, Bahrullah Khan claimed that the government had increased petroleum prices by as much as 43 per cent overnight, raising the per-litre price to Rs460, which he termed the highest surge in the region.
The speakers criticised the simultaneous increase in motorway and highway toll taxes, terming it an additional burden on citizens already struggling with inflation. They warned that the combined impact of higher fuel prices and toll taxes would trigger further inflation, leading to increased costs of transport, food items and daily essentials.
Similar protests were held in Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Khyber and Mohmand districts, where JI leaders and trader representatives warned that the people were already reeling under severe inflation and the latest increases had become unbearable. The party leaders demanded that the government immediately withdraw the decision and review its policies, warning of intensified public reaction if relief was not provided.
In Mansehra, people from different walks of life took to the streets to protest a sudden and steep increase in petroleum prices.
“The prices of petroleum products have reached a level where a fresh wave of inflation will adversely affect every segment of society,” Jamil Ahmad Jehangiri, district district of Jamaat-i-Islami, told the rally.
The rally, which started from the central mosque on Abbottabad Road, culminated at Khatm-i-Nabuwwat Chowk after passing through various roads.
Holding banners and placards, protesters raised slogans against the government, alleging that the IMF was behind the government’s decision to significantly increase petroleum prices since the start of the American-Israeli war with Iran.
In Shangla, transporters, traders, labour organisations, and local residents staged protest in the Bisham and Puran areas of Shangla district against the recent sharp increase in petroleum prices.
The protesters chanted slogans against the government and blocked the Karakoram Highway for several hours, completely disrupting traffic and causing severe difficulties for commuters.
During the demonstration, protesters burned tires on the road to express their anger, stating that the increase in fuel prices was unacceptable amid rising inflation. Transporters and traders said that businesses were already struggling, and higher fuel costs would lead to increased transport fares and a rise in prices of essential commodities, further burdening the public.
The participants also questioned the rationale behind the price-hike, claiming that despite the reported daily arrival of dozens of oil tankers from Iran, fuel prices were still being raised. They criticised the government for imposing additional financial pressure on citizens instead of providing relief during difficult economic conditions.
