Gold price in Pakistan falls Rs3,800 per tola

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) recently voiced its concerns over the daily surge in fuel prices during a joint meeting of its Executive and Rules Committees. The council, led by Vice Chairman Pir Muhammad Masood Chishti and Executive Committee Chairman Munir Ahmed Malik, criticized the government's failure to curb the escalating fuel costs which have worsened inflation and strained the living standards of ordinary citizens, particularly those in the middle and lower-middle classes.

The resolution emphasized the public's growing frustration and unrest caused by the relentless fuel price hikes. The council urged the government to scrap unnecessary privileges, excessive packages, free fuel facilities, and the misuse of official vehicles by ministers, government officials, and other privileged individuals. They stressed that the government must take immediate, concrete actions to counter fuel price inflation and provide relief to the affected citizens.

The PBC dismissed the idea of a "smart lockdown" as an ineffective solution to the economic crisis, stating that such measures would only add more pressure on the already struggling ordinary citizens, daily-wage earners, and businesses. Instead, the council called for practical steps to be taken by the government to offer relief to the affected population.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had unveiled a "relief scheme" for owners of motorcycles, rickshaws, and vehicles up to 800cc. Under the scheme, the owners of two- and three-wheeled vehicles would receive a monthly subsidy of Rs100 per litre for a quota of 20 litres, while those owning vehicles up to 800cc would get the same subsidy on a quota of 30 litres.