Thaindian News

Islamabad, Dec 2 (IANS) The hike in fuel prices has come as a shock for the people of Pakistan, a newspaper said Friday, adding that it was “hard to fathom the reasons given that they often appear to have no links with the situation in international markets”.

In the latest hike, Pakistan increased the price of diesel by Rs.4.67 to Rs.98.94 per litre and that of petrol by 48 paisa to Rs.87.89 per litre.

An editorial in the News International said: “It is becoming hard to keep track of how often petrol prices have gone up; it is also hard to fathom the reasons given that they often appear to have no links with the situation in international markets,” it said.

The editorial said that the diesel price rise “will push up the prices of almost all goods and create greater difficulties within households where already a desperate struggle is on to make ends meet, with children being pulled out of school or with cutbacks in healthcare needs”.

There are several other implications, it said.

“In Karachi we see buses that can be run only on diesel coming to a halt…This adds to the sense of chaos prevailing everywhere.”

“Explanations that have come from the government over the past months are weak and unsatisfactory. Lately there has been no attempt to give explanations at all. People are simply expected to live with the situation as best as they can. And those who cannot afford to do so anymore stand abandoned,” the editorial added.