Per a post circulating on Twitter, one Pakistani politician claimed that cheap petrol benefits the rich more than the poor. Quoting the politician, the post says that the rich person gets 50-60 liters of petrol for his car, while on the other hand, a poor get only one liter for his bike. Although it is unclear whether the politicians really said it, the point mentioned in the post is interesting.
The question arises, is the rich really the bigger beneficiary of cheap petrol? The economist Ali Khizar has answered the question in detail. In his reply to the post, Khizar mentioned there are seven bikes for one car in Pakistan. “There are perhaps seventy bikes for a car with 60-liter capacity,” the economist said, adding that the use of petrol is higher in bikes than in cars. “There are hundred and ten bikes for one bus, and the solution is to provide busses and subsidize them,” he concluded.
The debate on social media started after the current government increased the petrol price by Rs. 87 in two weeks, taking it to a record high. The masses are facing the hit of expensive petroleum goods and have been expressing anger over the storm of inflation that comes with it. You can see the public’s reaction in one of PakWheels’ videos. Here is the video:
Last Petrol Price Hike
Last week, petrol price in Pakistan was increased by Rs. 22.20 per liter, and the new prices were applicable from February 16, 2023. As per the Finance Ministry, the price of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) was also increased by Rs. 17.20 per liter.
This is how much the prices of petroleum goods had increased, Petrol Rs. 22.20. High-Speed Oil Rs. 17.20, Kerosene Oil Rs. 12.90, and Light-Speed Diesel (LDO) Rs. 9.68.
Meanwhile, the new fuel prices in Pakistan are:
Petrol Rs. 272
High-Speed Oil Rs. 280
Kerosene Oil Rs. 202.73
Light-Speed Diesel Rs. 196.68
Do you also think cheap petrol benefits the rich more? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.
