Whenever the price of petrol increases in Pakistan, it doesn't just affect those who drive; the entire society gets engulfed in its impact. From the rickshaw driver to the laborer, from the student to the businessman, everyone's life becomes expensive. Flour, lentils, vegetables, milk, transport, electricity, and even school fees become linked to petrol prices. This is why, in Pakistan, petrol is not just a fuel but has become the pulse of the economy. The question is, why is petrol so expensive in Pakistan? Is the burden really placed on the public due to rising prices in the global market, or do government financial policies, the failure of the tax system, and the expenditures of the elite also play a role?
A large part of the price of petrol in Pakistan is not the actual cost of the fuel itself, but the various taxes and levies imposed on it. The public is left wondering why prices in Pakistan do not decrease when crude oil becomes cheaper in the global market. The reality is that the government considers petrol the easiest source of its revenue. Combining Federal Excise Duty, Petroleum Levy, Sales Tax, and other charges, a burden sometimes greater than the actual price of petrol is placed on the public. This means the public doesn't just buy petrol; they also carry the burden of government expenditures on their shoulders.
The weakness of the tax net in Pakistan is an old issue. The FBR struggles every year to meet its tax collection targets. Big capitalists, feudal lords, influential business circles, and many sectors manage to evade paying their full share of taxes. The result is that the government takes the easy way out and increases taxes on basic necessities like petrol, electricity, and gas because revenue can be immediately recovered from these sources. In this way, a poor laborer and a wealthy industrialist both buy petrol at the same price, even though the burden falls much heavier on the poor. This is an injustice of the tax system that has slowly started to eradicate the middle class.
The pressure of IMF loans on Pakistan's economy is also a major reason for the continuous increase in petrol prices. When the government takes a loan, it also accepts strict conditions along with it. These conditions include ending subsidies, increasing taxes, and raising energy prices. Governments often take the stance that if petrol is made cheaper, the IMF program will be jeopardized. Thus, the public is told that inflation is inevitable. But the question is, will only the public be asked to make sacrifices? Do the ruling classes, the elite, and government institutions also demonstrate the same austerity?
It is a bitter reality in Pakistan that while the public is asked to adopt simplicity, the salaries and privileges of high-ranking government officials, judges, ministers, and parliamentarians are simultaneously increased. An ordinary government employee is crushed by inflation, while billions of rupees are spent on the elite's protocol, official vehicles, fuel, housing, security, and foreign trips. The public is completely justified in asking: if the country is suffering from a severe economic crisis, then why doesn't the ruling class make any sacrifices?
During parliamentary sessions, huge amounts of money are spent on the accommodation, food, travel facilities, and other arrangements of assembly members. On the other hand, the poor public is told to endure inflation because the country is passing through a difficult period. This contradiction creates anger and distrust in the hearts of the people. The public feels that austerity is only for the poor, while the powerful class remains insulated from every hardship.
Similarly, the matter of development funds is also worth considering. In Pakistan, development projects are often initiated for political benefit rather than genuine public need. Billions of rupees are spent on roads, streets, showcase projects, and advertisements to gain political mileage in upcoming elections. Many projects remain incomplete, many are completed only on paper, while the burden of debt and taxes continues to mount on the public. If these same resources were spent on education, health, industrial development, and public transport, not only would the economy be strengthened, but the dependence on petrol could also be significantly reduced.
The amount of money spent on government publicity is also a massive question mark. Crores, and even billions of rupees, are spent on advertising government achievements through newspapers, television, social media, and massive billboards. At a time when the public is distressed about the prices of flour and petrol, these advertising campaigns feel equivalent to rubbing salt into their wounds. The public sees far more publicity than actual relief.
Security and protocol expenditures in Pakistan are also extraordinary. The convoys of VIPs, dozens of escort vehicles, road closures, heavy police deployments, and special arrangements become a heavy burden on the state treasury. Even in developed countries, prime ministers and presidents are seen traveling simply, but in Pakistan, protocol is considered an ultimate symbol of power. Its financial burden, ultimately, is borne by the public.
Another effect of petrol becoming expensive is the rise in industrial costs. Products become more expensive as the production cost of factories increases. Food prices rise because transportation becomes costly. Thus, a never-ending cycle of inflation is triggered. The most affected demographic is the white-collar class, which is neither poor enough to receive financial aid nor rich enough to remain unaffected by inflation.
The need of the hour is that the tax system in Pakistan be made truly fair and equitable. Instead of taxing only the salaried class and essential items of public use, big capitalists, feudal lords, and tax-evading elements must be brought within the ambit of the law. Unnecessary government expenditures must be slashed. Government austerity should not be limited to mere slogans but should be visible in practice. The privileges of ministers, the bureaucracy, and other high officials should be limited so that the public feels that everyone is sharing the burden of sacrifice.
It is also crucial to overhaul the public transport system in Pakistan so that the public's reliance on individual vehicles is minimized. By focusing on electric vehicles, solar energy, and alternative energy sources, the petrol crisis can be mitigated in the future. However, this requires long-term planning, political stability, and honest leadership.
Today, the Pakistani public is fighting not just inflation but also a deep sense of deprivation. The realization that sacrifices are demanded exclusively from them is what hurts the most. If the ruling class truly stands with the public, reduces its own expenditures, adopts justice-based policies, and utilizes national resources considering them a sacred trust, the public will readily stand by the state in difficult times. But when, on the one hand, a common man thinks twice before putting two liters of petrol in a motorcycle, and on the other hand, fuel is burned ruthlessly in official VIP convoys, questions are bound to arise.
Pakistan can be saved not just by securing more loans, but through economic justice. Until public welfare is placed at the very top of state priorities, the rising prices of petrol will not just remain an economic issue, but will continue to serve as a glaring symbol of social unrest.