MULTAN (Staff Reporter): In a joint statement, President of the Anjuman Tajran Chowk Ghanta Ghar Fahad Ishaq Sangi, President of the Anjuman Tajran Kacheri Road Raheel Asghar Hashmi Qureshi, Chairman of Timber Market Haji Niaz Ali Qureshi and Finance Secretary of Kacheri Road Khawaja Shoaib Siddiqui said that the government had effectively “doused the poor man’s stove” by dropping a petrol bomb on the public on a daily basis.

Expressing deep concern over the daily increase in the prices of petroleum products, they termed the move economic murder. The business community of South Punjab does not accept the extraordinary increase in petroleum product prices under any circumstances.

They said that the government’s daily increase in petrol prices was tantamount to breaking the backs of the poor and the business community. The decision would not only increase transportation costs but also trigger a new wave of inflation, the burden of which would fall directly on the common man.

They said that instead of advising the public to save money, the government should end its lavish spending and protocol. Free petrol provided to government officials, unnecessary perks and official facilities should be discontinued to reduce the burden on the national exchequer and provide relief to the public.

They further said that the business community was already distressed by heavy electricity bills and the prevailing inflation. In such circumstances, increasing petrol prices was an attempt to bring industry and trade to a standstill.

The business community demanded that the cruel increase be immediately withdrawn so that economic stability could be restored in the country and relief could be provided to the people.

MULTAN: President of the Anjuman Tajran Chowk Ghanta Ghar Fahad Ishaq Sangi, President of the Anjuman Tajran Kacheri Road Raheel Asghar Hashmi Qureshi, Chairman of Timber Market Haji Niaz Ali Qureshi and Finance Secretary of Kacheri Road Khawaja Shoaib Siddiqui are seen speaking to the media.