ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Tuesday took exception to the record hike in fuel prices in the country’s history, leading to overall massive inflation.
In a statement, the PBC Vice Chairman Pir Muhammad Masood Chishti, Chairman Munir Ahmed Malik, executive committee and council members said the sharp increase in the prices of consumer items had seriously hit the affordability of the middle and lower middle class.
They demanded that the government immediately withdraw all the privileges, high packages and free fuel facility being provided to the ministers and government officials and condense or reduce other undue expenses rather than further overburdening and squeezing the common man.
The stressed that the elite class should also sacrifice and government should take immediate concrete practical steps to control the ongoing inflationary pressure and provide relief to the common man.
The council said the government had increased the fuel prices by honouring commitments with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) without realising that it would hit almost half of the country’s population living below the poverty line.
The council further said continuous fuel hike had caused great unrest and frustration to the people and shaken their faith and trust in the government.
