Expressing over confidence despite back to back call for march to Islamabad, the government proceeded with daily increase in the prices of petrol and diesel. The price of petrol has reached almost Rs. 400 and diesel is Rs. 422 per liter. The protest march of Jamaat-e-Islami against petroleum levy and price escalation of petroleum products failed to exert any pressure on the government. Likewise, those wielding power are over reacting to PTI’s protest march on Islamabad for the release of founding Chairman Imran Khan and surge in prices of essential commodities but is not reluctant to use excessive force by ordering large-scale arrests and deployment of hundreds of containers in Rawalpindi and Islamabad to prevent PTI long march and protest. 

If power elites are devoid of strategic prudence and care less for the well-being of 250 million people of Pakistan it means those who are living in their comfort zones lack the wisdom to redeem the consequences of their over confidence in dealing with colossal economic challenges. The protests and demonstrations of Jamaat-i-Islami against escalation of petroleum products and subsequent price hike also didn’t impact on the government. It is futile to expect PML(N), PPP and MQM to raise their voice against how criminal handling of escalation of petroleum prices is being done. Since February this year there has been 150% increase in the price of petroleum products whereas in Bangladesh and India that hike is 20-40% respectively.

 As of September 22, 2026, price of crude oil has fallen below 100 dollars a barrel but the government is in no mood to reduce the prices of oil and diesel. Nowhere in the world, prices of oil and diesel are reviewed on daily basis but that is being done in Pakistan because authorities neither feel accountable nor concerned about the implications of periodic hike in the prices of petroleum products. They are more interested in extracting more and more money from people in order to sustain their lavish life style and pay interest on foreign and domestic loans. They quote IMF that it has asked for increase in........

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