“People’s Oil Is Being Looted – This Is a Direct Robbery of Their Pockets,” Says Journalist Asima Shirazi
LAHORE – Journalist Asima Shirazi has sharply criticized the government’s fuel price hikes, stating that the nation’s oil is being extracted and sold at exorbitant rates, amounting to a direct robbery of the public’s earnings.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) responding to former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry’s tweet, Shirazi echoed his concerns, saying, “The people’s oil is being taken out – this is an outright theft from the pockets of the masses.”
Fawad Chaudhry had earlier pointed out that since the onset of tensions between the United States and Iran, Pakistan has increased petrol prices by 114 rupees per litre. In contrast, India raised prices by only 7 rupees per litre, and Bangladesh by just 24 taka per litre during the same period.
عوام کا تیل نکالا جا رہا ہے یہ سیدھا سیدھا عوام کی جیب پر ڈاکہ ہے۔ https://t.co/4yXermKuSD
— Asma Shirazi (@asmashirazi) September 9, 2026
Shirazi further lambasted the government’s spending priorities, noting that while the public suffers, Maryam Nawaz is holidaying in London with an 11-billion-rupee aircraft, and vehicles worth 40 billion rupees are being purchased in just three days. “Flour, onions – everything has hit sky-high prices,” she said. “The opposition is silent, and these people are looting the nation just as the Mongols sacked Baghdad.”
It is worth noting that the government continues to raise petroleum product prices on a daily basis. Just yesterday, another major increase was announced – petrol prices rose by 5 rupees 58 paise per litre, and diesel by 4 rupees 18 paise per litre. The new prices stand at 364 rupees 35 paise for petrol and 385 rupees 95 paise for diesel.
