The government just pulled an unexpected card on the International Monetary Fund (IMF)! Earlier they promised to shelve the petrol subsidy scheme, but, they’ve just gone ahead and submitted a summary for a relief package for motorcyclists and small vehicle owners. People living in Karachi are in dire need of any relief they can get. Especially for those of us going around on two-wheels or small cars.
Some people might argue that the government should be cutting back on subsidies and focusing on more sustainable energy solutions. And maybe they’re not wrong. But whatever it is, the government has finally given some sort of relief to the public are continuous torture due to a lack of utilities like electricity and gas.
Back in February, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a subsidy for petrol to benefit motorcyclists and car owners with vehicles up to 800 ccs. To offset the cost, an Rs50 per liter increase was implemented for those belonging to the higher income category and who own vehicles above 800 ccs.
The Petrol Subsidy Summary
According to sources within the Energy Ministry, the Petroleum Division has now dist distributed a summary for approval by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet. This comes after the Prime Minister finalized the “concept” of the proposal.
The summary reveals that the government plans to collect an additional amount of up to Rs75 per liter from consumers, who are already struggling to pay the high price of Rs282 per liter. The government needs to seriously consider the impact of these price hikes on the average consumer. It’s becoming harder and harder for people to make ends meet, and this is only going to worsen the situation.
Unfortunately, given the political episodes of Pakistan, many people see it as a mere political stunt, an attempt to strengthen the government’s popularity which has been plummeting as of late. And to make matters worse, even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed concerns about how the scheme could impact the budget and the potential for misuse.
Will this bring any good to the people of Pakistan or is it just another temporary distraction as people think? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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