Sindh [Pakistan], April 4 : Sindh's nationalist leadership has issued a strong call for public protests following a dramatic spike in fuel prices, which have nearly doubled within weeks amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict. The sharp increase has triggered widespread concern over its cascading impact on inflation and the cost of living, as reported by The Express Tribune.
According to The Express Tribune, Sindh United Party (SUP) President Syed Zain Shah urged citizens to take to the streets, arguing that the recent price hikes have placed an unbearable burden on ordinary people. He demanded that the government either roll back the increases introduced after the conflict or step down.
Shah emphasised that the scale of the increase is "economically destructive" and far beyond what the public can sustain. He further called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari to immediately eliminate all taxes and levies on petroleum products to stabilise prices. Shah criticised the government's economic approach, asserting that citizens should not suffer due to flawed policy decisions.
Meanwhile, Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT) leader Ayaz Latif Palijo announced a province-wide protest campaign lasting five days. He condemned what he described as uncontrolled inflation driven by soaring fuel costs. Palijo accused the government of acting under pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), particularly regarding subsidy reductions, and alleged the involvement of corrupt elements in policymaking, as highlighted by The Express Tribune.
Palijo stated that organised demonstrations would intensify if the government fails to reverse the price hike, stressing that public anger is reaching a tipping point. Adding to the criticism, Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party (STPP) Chairman Dr Qadir Magsi argued that the government's policies are pushing citizens toward economic desperation. He claimed that even necessities, such as two daily meals, are becoming increasingly unaffordable for many households, as reported by The Express Tribune.