Picture Courtesy: Express Tribune.
Going through the latest news (literally - late night news) on Express Tribune courtesy an assignment due tonight, I came across an attractive headline that read, "Energy deregulation: Gas prices to go up, oil prices to come down" Being an oppressed Pakistani eluded to worry about survival every passing moment, relief is the first thing we try to extract from news, though most often than not, disappointment is the order of the day.
The relief I extracted from this news piece was the latter half; oil prices are supposed to go down. It is nothing comforting to analyse how these prices have hiked continuously since about the time our new government came into power. Occasionally, people were given the much needed relief in the form of reducing prices in paisas often followed by a hike of rupees. This time, however, the government seem to have lived it's promises when it reduced the prices by almost Rs.5! However, relief in Pakistan is never complete..
Almost immediately, the former part of the news got my attention. Gas prices were to soar. What the news held was even more shocking - it was to become equivalent to oil prices! That means the masses of Pakistan, after being bestowed with a blessing to boot, would now be deprived of their source of "cheap" fuel for their cars and domestic usage. This would render the installation of expensive CNG Kits in our cars resemble just a source of additional burden. This would render the CNG Kits completely useless! This would mean the gas being supplied to our homes will also become expensive - gives me the idea of reviving the firewood age! Wow government!! Hats off to you people!! What a relief!!!
Though the joke on us does not end here. This news came with a disclaimer right at the end of the news which said, "The price increase was to go into effect on July 01, but the government was sued by the utility companies, which means that the new prices cannot go into effect until a court rules on the case." Exactly when was the last time Pakistani court ruled on ANY case?! Maybe the Late President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's case?! Even that case has been revived from the dead!! Since then it has only been a "Tom & Jerry" race!
The news was nothing short of another joke pulled on us Pakistanis on the pretense of relief and aid while we are actually more busy to standardize our survival mechanisms, another special gift of our government! Transport is the most vital part of any individual's life. This is not the age of camels and donkeys, and this age's technology severely depends on fuel! Jokes like these are detrimental to not only us as citizens but also to our economy as a nation!
May Allah Bless Us All.
Peace.
