Don’t be surprised tomorrow if the tank of Suzuki Alto fills for an amount greater than Rs. 350. The government has decided to raise the natural gas prices by a whopping 30 percent, while going for a Rs.13 per kg increase in the CNG prices so as not to affect the poor of the country. This isn’t a conventional price hike; it’s abnormal. The reasons are preposterous. The international prices have nothing to do with this, because Pakistan produces all of its gas domestically. Can someone please say how will this price hike not affect the poor? Are we talking about the poor who don’t have a car? Even so, those who have a car and a low wage, should they sell their car to come in the category of poor people? I don’t know how this government is defining poor.

While they claim that they have inherited the country in this state, they really cannot blame the previous government on the gas prices. They were very critical (always) whenever there was even a 2 rupee price hike in the previous tenure. This is why they say, never say words you’ll have to regret (even in opposition). But there is no regret, right?

Every time I see such ridiculous acts of the new government, I’m taken back in history, not far but near history. A Prime Minister, who was labeled dummy (not more than the current one), who was an educated and certified economist, who’s blamed for financial crisis by the uneducated thugs (who don’t even know what the GDP is). That Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, must be applauded. His government’s cumulative increase in CNG prices never reached 13 rupees, while this government has achieved the spectacular feat in one go. See what difference an educated man, who’s an expert in his field, can make?? Hats off to Shaukat Aziz!