In a statement issued here, CRCP general secretary Mian Abrar criticized the decision of OCAC, according to which the prices of diesel and petrol have increased by 4.48 per cent and 0.08 per cent respectively with effect from June 1, 2002. The prices of diesel and petrol had been increased by 17.02 and 4.3 percent just two weeks ago on May 15, 2002. The accumulated effect of these price hikes would adversely affect the poor, he lamented.

He said OCAC did not seem to be acting in transparent way because it did not advance a reasonable justification for the increase. He was of the view that oil prices in international market had remained stable at large. The same is acknowledged by OCAC, but the committee says that prices have "increased marginally for gasoline and diesel," in the previous fortnight, he pointed out. He said had the change in world oil prices been such, which could justify OCAC's decision, it would have definitely proclaimed the figures.

Mian Abrar said consumers must know how the price was revised. OCAC must publicize its source of information about changes in prices of international oil market and detail out the decision for transparency. He said people were kept in darkness and OCAC was revising oil prices at its will. He emphasized that OCAC needed to be just and transparent in its decisions. CRCP general secretary lamented that the current price hike was an effort to bring oil prices up to the highest level possible before deregulation under OGRA, which would start working in July this year.

While commenting on the effects of OCAC decision, Mian Abrar said the price hike was a shock for the consumers, who were already burdened with exorbitant price hikes of essential items, public sterilities, etc. He said it would add to the miseries of marginalized sections of society in Particular. He said the accumulated effect of price hikes during this month has frustrated the people.

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