PTI MPAs protest petrol hike on donkey carts

PTI MPAs protest petrol hike on donkey carts

PTI lawmakers in Sindh staged a symbolic protest against rising petrol prices by arriving at the Sindh Assembly on donkey carts, saying the increasing cost of fuel had made it difficult for ordinary citizens to afford daily transportation.

PTI MPA Sajjad Ali led the protest and was seen riding a donkey cart while holding a placard criticising the government’s recent increase in petroleum prices. Other PTI lawmakers also joined the demonstration, carrying placards and chanting slogans against the federal government.

The lawmakers travelled on donkey carts from areas near the provincial assembly to its main entrance, where they continued their protest and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the latest increase in petroleum prices.

Speaking during the demonstration, Sajjad Ali said the protest sought to draw attention to the financial difficulties faced by ordinary people because of rising fuel costs.

“Petrol has become so expensive that we cannot even come to the assembly in our vehicles,” he said, arguing that the public was bearing the impact of government policies and higher fuel prices.

Ali also called on federal and provincial ministers and treasury lawmakers to use donkey carts to reach the assembly if fuel prices continued to rise.

Fuel prices have climbed amid renewed tensions in the Middle East, which have disrupted major oil supply routes and affected international energy markets. The government currently adjusts petroleum prices on a daily basis in response to changes in global oil prices and related costs.

Following the latest revision announced on Thursday, petrol is priced at Rs390.79 per litre, while high-speed diesel (HSD) costs Rs424.92 per litre. The current prices include government taxes and duties of Rs114 per litre on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel.

The rising fuel costs have also drawn criticism from other groups. A joint meeting of the Executive Committee and Rules Committee of the Pakistan Bar Council strongly criticised what it described as unprecedented daily increases in petroleum prices. The council urged the government to take steps to contain fuel costs and provide relief to citizens.

Meanwhile, the federal government has introduced a relief scheme targeting users of motorcycles, rickshaws, and vehicles with engine capacities of up to 800cc. The initiative aims to reduce the impact of higher global oil prices on lower-income and fuel-dependent consumers.