In the wake of the recent petrol price hikes the federal government, as well as the provincial governments of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have reduced their petrol consumption and fuel quotas while a campaign demanding the judiciary, armed forces and the bureaucracy to do the same has begun on social media.
Since then, people on social media have been demanding that the free petrol allowances given to most governmental officials, judiciary members, army officers and bureaucrats should be reduced, or abolished entirely.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced on Monday that the fuel quota of ministers and government officials in the Sindh Assembly would be cut by 40%.
“The rise in petrol price should not be a burden on the exchequer,” Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah said, adding burdening the treasury means increasing the burden on the people.
Following suit, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan also issued a statement declaring that petrol consumption in governmental institutes in the province would be reduced by 35%, adding that this was being done to reduce the burden on people and the treasury.
عوامی مفاد اور خزانے پر بوجھ کم کرنے کیلئے
سرکاری اداروں میں پٹرولیم مصنوعات کے اخراجات پر 35 فیصد کٹ کا اعلان ۔عوام کا پیسہ صرف عوام پر خرچ کرنے کیلئے مزید اقدامات کرینگےقائد عمران خان کی قیادت میں عوام کو امپورٹڈ حکومت کے ظالمانہ اقدامات کے نقصان سے بچانے کیلئے متحرک ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/NRVFhJDe6a— Mahmood Khan (@IMMahmoodKhan) June 3, 2022
It has been reported that the federal government is also taking similar austerity measures and reducing fuel allowances, leaving only the Punjab government to follow suit.
Responding to the developments on social media, citizens have expressed the view that instead of burdening the masses with price hikes, the government should instead curb the privilege afforded to the judiciary, bureaucracy and the armed forces.
https://twitter.com/FariUrooj/status/1532634417671421953?s=20&t=0jWymlmbs92cZkDhb3ohiQ
https://twitter.com/ali_axhar/status/1532666886588182529?s=20&t=0jWymlmbs92cZkDhb3ohiQ
https://twitter.com/FarhanZaad/status/1532630820720189440?s=20&t=0jWymlmbs92cZkDhb3ohiQ
Even prominent political leaders are agreeing with the calls for strict austerity measures. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar suggested paycuts for politicians, generals, judges and bureaucrats.
Why should common folk shoulder the failures of political, military & judicial elite? This joke has to end. If common man is forced to tighten his belt then pays of politicians, generals, judges & senior bureaucrats should b halved & all perks withdrawn including free utilities.
— Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar (@Mustafa_PPP) June 2, 2022
Provincial Minister of Punjab Ali Haider Gillani also showed support for the suggestion to suspend fuel allowances for top governmental officials. The Punjab government has yet to announce fuel cuts for its employees.
https://twitter.com/ahaidergilani86/status/1532667993767002112
Not cutting cabinet but free petrol of cabinet members
— Azhar Abbas (@AzharAbbas3) June 3, 2022
