The Aryavarth Express Sindh (Pakistan), April 7: Massive protests broke out across Sindhprovince on Tuesday as citizens and political groups voiced anger over soaring fuel price and rising inflation, according to Dawn.
Demonstrations were reported in major cities including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, and Jacobabad, with protesters warning of a nationwide आंदोलन if relief measures are not introduced.
In Sukkur, activists from the Sindh United Party (SUP) staged a dramatic protest outside the press club. Participants wore burial shrouds and observed a symbolic hunger strike to highlight the severity of the economic crisis. SUP leader Eidan Jagirani criticised what he called a “misleading” reduction of PKR 80 in fuel prices, pointing out that it followed a steep hike of PKR 137 per litre in recent weeks. He said inflation had made basic necessities unaffordable for the common man.
At the same location, workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), led by Gohar Khan Khoso, also held a demonstration. Khoso claimed petrol prices had surged to PKR 378 per litre, placing immense strain on household budgets. He warned that protests could intensify and spread across the country if the government fails to provide immediate relief and reduce taxes.
Meanwhile, the Awami Tehreek organised a large rally from Teer Chowk to Ghanta Ghar, followed by a sit-in. Leaders Noor Ahmed Katiar and Sarwan Jatoi accused the government of using global tensions as a pretext to justify unprecedented fuel price hikes, calling recent subsidies insufficient to address public grievances.
In Karachi, labour unions including the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) and the Home-Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) held a joint protest, condemning both the fuel price increase and broader economic policies tied to international financial institutions. They demanded the removal of petroleum taxes, higher wages, and an end to foreign debt repayments.
In Jacobabad, a bicycle rally organised by the Aam Insan Tehreek underscored the growing inability of citizens to afford transportation. Protest leaders urged the government to cut its own expenditures instead of shifting the burden onto the public.
The demonstrations reflect mounting public frustration over rising living costs, with growing calls for immediate economic relief and policy changes.
