{"id":52644,"date":"2026-04-27T02:45:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T02:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailydigitalposts.com\/?p=52644"},"modified":"2026-04-27T02:45:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T02:45:28","slug":"islamabad-digital-post-indifference-of-the-rulers-a-storm-of-inflation-are-the-people-only-meant-to-pay-taxes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailydigitalposts.com\/?p=52644","title":{"rendered":"Islamabad (Digital Post): Indifference of the rulers, a storm of inflation\u2014are the people only meant to pay taxes?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Islamabad (Digital Post):<\/strong> Indifference of the rulers, a storm of inflation\u2014are the people only meant to pay taxes?<\/p>\n

The recent shocking increase in petroleum prices in Pakistan is not merely an economic decision but an act of economic oppression imposed on poor citizens, which has even taken away the right to live from the middle class. Today, when petrol prices in Pakistan have reached Rs. 393.35 and high-speed diesel Rs. 380.19, it is necessary to ask: how long will the state continue to drain the blood of its citizens just to please international institutions?<\/p>\n

In the global market, crude oil prices remain between $110 and $120 per barrel despite wartime conditions, yet in Pakistan, prices are soaring because the actual cost of petrol is lower while the burden of mismanagement and taxes is much higher. It may surprise the public to know that they are paying around Rs. 107 per liter in the form of Petroleum Development Levy (PDL), while customs duties and other margins mean nearly 40% of the price goes directly into government revenue.<\/p>\n

When we look at neighboring countries, it becomes a matter of shame; India, despite global pressure, purchases discounted oil from Russia and provides petrol at around Rs. 345. Afghanistan has prices close to Rs. 300, and in Iran, petrol costs around Rs. 115 compared to Pakistan. Meanwhile, our rulers have sacrificed so-called sovereignty and are merely following IMF dictates.<\/p>\n

A major question arises: if Pakistan claims to play a global role, mediate in international conflicts, and lead the Muslim world, then why is it unable to stop this \u201ceconomic war\u201d against its own people? Is our diplomacy only for others\u2019 interests? What is the use of being a nuclear power if we still sacrifice public welfare due to fear of sanctions?<\/p>\n

The dignity of being a nuclear state can only be maintained when the economy is independent and the people are prosperous. If we cannot import cheaper oil from neighboring Iran due to fear of sanctions\u2014despite potential discounts of up to $30 per barrel\u2014then what kind of strength is this that cannot even guarantee affordable fuel and basic necessities?<\/p>\n

Expensive petrol does not only increase travel costs; it directly affects farmers\u2019 tractors, transport trucks, and factory production, making flour, vegetables, and essential goods unaffordable for the poor. What kind of state is this that cannot end privileges and free fuel for the elite but imposes over Rs. 100 tax on petrol used by a laborer on a motorcycle?<\/p>\n

If Pakistan is truly independent, it must take bold decisions in the public interest. Immediate agreements with Iran and Russia for cheaper oil and adopting barter trade to break reliance on the dollar are necessary steps to bring petrol prices down to Rs. 200\u2013250 per liter.<\/p>\n

The rulers must remember that public patience has reached its limit. It is time to stop crushing the people and instead reform policies made under foreign influence. History shows that when hunger spreads, even thrones cannot survive.<\/p>\n

The government must immediately remove excessive taxes and prioritize public welfare, because a state exists for its people\u2014the people do not exist to be sacrificed for the state.<\/p>\n

“This is not the price of oil, it is the blood of the poor\u2014being consumed by the rulers with great ease.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Islamabad (Digital Post): Indifference of the rulers, a storm of inflation\u2014are the people only meant to pay taxes? The recent shocking increase in petroleum prices in Pakistan is not merely an economic decision but an act of economic oppression imposed on poor citizens, which has even taken away the right to live from the middle […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":52643,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[41,37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-islamabad","category-national"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailydigitalposts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailydigitalposts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailydigitalposts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailydigitalposts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailydigitalposts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=52644"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dailydigitalposts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52645,"href":"https:\/\/dailydigitalposts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52644\/revisions\/52645"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailydigitalposts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/52643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailydigitalposts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=52644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailydigitalposts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=52644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailydigitalposts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=52644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}