PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi announced a subsidy for registered motorcycle riders across the province after the federal government increased petroleum prices.
Speaking at a press conference at the Chief Minister’s House, he said the provincial government would provide financial support to low and middle-income households affected by the rise in fuel prices. He also said a relief package for farmers was being prepared ahead of the wheat harvest.
According to an official statement, the chief minister said the provincial government could not support any decision that put extra financial burden on people who were already struggling. He rejected the recent increase in petroleum prices and said the hike would affect around 100 million people living below the poverty line.
Mr Afridi announced a subsidy of Rs2,200 for registered motorcyclists. Under the plan, riders will receive Rs1,100 immediately and another Rs1,100 later. He also said the provincial government would bear the additional cost of the Bus Rapid Transit.
The chief minister said fares of the BRT service would not be increased despite economic pressure so that commuters would not face further inflation.
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He also announced the introduction of pink buses for women in the BRT system on the occasion of International Women’s Day to provide safer and more accessible transport for female passengers. He said 140 more buses would be purchased, adding that 52 buses had already been manufactured.
Mr Afridi said the Rs55 per litre increase in petrol prices was unjustified and placed a heavy burden on the public. He said the provincial government strongly rejected the decision.
He criticised the ruling parties for what he called a contradiction in their stance, saying that the same parties had earlier described a Rs12 increase in petrol prices as a “petrol bomb” but had now imposed a much larger hike.
The chief minister also questioned the Punjab government’s decision to purchase a luxury aircraft worth Rs12 billion, saying public funds should be used to provide relief to people and support economic stability.
He said governments should reduce unnecessary spending and administrative luxuries instead of shifting the burden to the public.
Talking about the energy situation, Mr Afridi said global oil prices did influence local fuel prices, but the size of the increase and the policy adopted by the federal government were major concerns.
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He said the petroleum levy had been increased from Rs85 to Rs105 per litre. According to him, the federal government had already collected Rs822 billion through the levy during the first seven months of the current fiscal year, and the total could reach about Rs1.7 trillion by the end of the year.
The chief minister said reducing this levy could have provided significant relief to consumers. He also welcomed consultations between the federal government and provinces on the issue.
However, he warned that if global conditions worsened, there could be a risk of petrol and diesel shortages. He said the KP government would send written proposals to the federal government to deal with possible supply challenges.
“Our commitment is not to any government but to Pakistan, because Pakistan belongs to all of us,” he said.
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Mr Afridi said the provincial government had taken several austerity steps. He noted that most members of the KP Assembly came from middle-class backgrounds, yet the government had not increased their salaries. He added that a ban had been imposed on foreign visits and the purchase of new official vehicles.
He also said that despite a helicopter crash during flood relief operations, the provincial government had not yet bought a replacement helicopter in order to prioritise public welfare.
The chief minister recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government led by Imran Khan managed the country during very difficult conditions. He said the provincial government remained committed to providing relief to people in line with that vision.
He added that the KP government had also set up a monitoring dashboard for petrol pumps across the province. Through this system, authorities can track fuel availability and quickly detect hoarding or supply disruptions.
