PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council (KPBC) has rejected the recent increase in petroleum product prices by the government and announced a boycott of courts across the province on Monday.
KPBC General Body meeting was held yesterday, where a unanimous resolution was passed to boycott courts proceeding Monday in protest against the increase in petroleum product prices.
The Bar Council expressed deep concern over the continuous increase in petroleum product prices and stated that this increase has led to a huge rise in transportation, food, medicine, and other essential commodity prices, making life more difficult for the common man.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council strongly demands that the government immediately review its policy on petroleum product prices, abolish all taxes on petroleum products, and immediately lift the toll tax on all vehicles to provide immediate relief to the people.
The government’s move is unjustified, unnecessary, and anti-people, imposing an unbearable economic burden on the public, especially those already struggling with inflation.
PM Shehbaz announces reduction in petrol prices
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced Rs 80 reduction in petrol prices while giving relief to the public due to the tough situation.
While addressing a news conference, PM Shehbaz made the announcement. In his special address to the nation, mentioning the impact of the global inflation storm and the ongoing Gulf War, he said that during the last 3 weeks, the government has saved the people from the burden of global market prices by spending Rs 129 billion from national resources, and now relief is being provided by directly reducing prices.
Speaking on the global situation, the Prime Minister said that inflation has broken the backs of the world’s powerful economies, and he himself, along with Field Marshal and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, is sincerely trying to stop the Gulf War.
He prayed that God may end this war soon so that peace can be established in the region; however, he expressed his determination that he will continue his diplomatic efforts until the flames of fire cool down.
The Prime Minister also expressed special gratitude to the Chief Ministers of all four provinces, Ms Maryam Nawaz, Murad Ali Shah, Sohail Afridi and Sarfaraz Bugti, for their cooperation in this national cause.
Announcing more major decisions regarding public relief, the Prime Minister said that goods and public transport will be subsidised at the rate of Rs. 100 per litre, while it has been decided to provide a subsidy of up to Rs. 100,000 per month to public transport.
In addition, a subsidy of up to Rs. 1,500 has been approved for small farmers, and no fare will be charged from passengers in the economy class coaches of Pakistan Railways to facilitate the poor.
In his address, the Prime Minister reiterated his resolve that he will continue to take all possible steps to directly alleviate the problems of the common man and the working class by saving national resources.
