Ramzan gift of petrol prices is unprecedented: Sherry.

ISLAMABAD -- Speaking on the floor of the House, PPP Parliamentary Leader in Senate Senator Sherry Rehman questioned the rising petrol prices and its implications saying, 'The government is introducing tax amnesty schemes for the rich and inflationary packages for the poor.

Even the darkest dictatorial regimes did not hike the price of petrol during the month of Ramazan, there would be relief packages for the people instead, she said.

There was never such a harrowing structural adjustment that would lead to the country being nuked by a petrol bomb. The government has already been reduced to ribbon cutting while IMF makes the policies'.

Rehman questioned, 'Why have petrol prices gone up by 14 per cent? Before May 1, the GST was 2% of the total petrol price, which was increased to a whopping 12% before Ramazan. This is the only Ramazan package the government has given. A horrifying third budget is on its way. We never know what federal levies or taxes the people would be slapped with overnight. The government is oblivious as to what the IMF is going to do.

We are hearing that they will make the government impose further 12-15% taxes, increase the price of petrol and the dollar. As a result, the prices of commodities will sky-rocket'.

The Senator said, 'The Prime Minister lacks courage to face the House. Since assuming power, he has only been present in the parliament once. This government has taken loans of over Rs. 3000 billion in a span of nine months, contradicting all of its promises. Just like that, 4 million have been pushed below the poverty line before this Ramazan. People cannot even afford to survive on bread (roti) and onions. Revolutions, like in the USSR, have started over the affordability of bread'.

'Petrol is the backbone of any economy. Rise in petrol prices impacts every...