Energy Ministry officials cite soaring global crude prices, exacerbated by regional geopolitical strains, as the culprit. Minister Ali Pervez Malik explained that international pacts leave little wiggle room, forcing the subsidy slash onto consumers already reeling from prior increases.

The HRC’s response cuts deep, framing the policy as an invitation to runaway inflation. ‘These aren’t just numbers; they’re eroding the backbone of the middle and lower classes,’ the council stated. With transport costs set to spike, essential goods and healthcare will follow, pushing vulnerable families below the poverty line.

Demanding urgent reversal, the HRC insists the state’s primary duty is public welfare, not imposing crushing burdens. ‘Listen to the people’s voice; cut luxuries for the elite to ease the load on the poor,’ urged the chairperson. Context matters: this follows a brutal earlier hike—petrol up 43%, diesel 55%—that still stings.

Pakistan’s economic tightrope walk intensifies. As voices like the HRC amplify public suffering, the question looms: can the government pivot to relief before discontent boils over into crisis?