Consumers condemn oil price hike

ISLAMABAD—The Network for Consumer Protection has strongly condemned the continued hike of petrol prices in the country and termed it a serious dent in already meager budget of consumers, blamed the government of getting twenty rupees more from the consumers than the actual cost per liter of oil.
According to Consumer Protection Organization, the government is buying oil from the international market on the rate of 58.20 dollars per barrel, which after all the taxes, and processing expenditures, costs her not more than Rs. 35 per litter.
Instead of fulfilling her possibility to help consumers lessen their economic burdens, the government is benefiting from the situation, and earning profits through selling oil to consumers on high price.
On the other hand the gravity of the situation of poverty, and joblessness in the country is clear from the fact that over last two to three years the rise in the prices of oil is six times greater than the increase in the income per head, the statement said.
While fiercely criticizing the role of OGRA (Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority) the network for consumer protection expressed it's concern that the authority is a failed institution and has been totally unsuccessful in stabilizing the oil prices in the country, and keeping a close check over those policies of the oil companies which are against the interests of consumers.
The network blamed that the government is fully aware of gravity of the situation and is not interfering due to some personal interests.
The network expressed its grave concern over the increasingly deteriorating situation of poverty and joblessness in the country and made it clear that if the government does not take immediate steps to stabilize the oil prices.
It may be ended in an increase in burden on the economic structure of the country, and may afflict it in some critical economic and social crisis.
The network for consumer protection also demanded that OGRA should be given more authority, so that it can control the situation and check the anti-consumer policies of the oil complains.