Pakistan: Peshawar sinks deeper into crisis as transport operators stage protest

Peshawar [Pakistan], May 10 : A dramatic increase in petroleum prices has unleashed a fresh wave of economic distress across Peshawar and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where dozens of transport operators staged a protest at the Hajji Camp Terminal in Peshawar due to the soaring transport fares and escalating flour prices ahead of Eid.

Ordinary residents are struggling to cope with what many describe as unbearable inflation and economic neglect, as reported by The Express Tribune.

According to The Express Tribune, transport operators condemned the continuous increase in petrol and diesel prices. Demonstrators raised slogans against the government and demanded immediate relief, warning that the unchecked fuel hikes were crippling public transport and pushing low-income families into desperation. Transport leader Zubair Ahmed Qureshi, speaking during the protest, said inflation had reached a point where even basic survival was becoming difficult. He criticised the dual burden of CNG shortages and rising petroleum costs, saying unemployment and inflation had already devastated poor households. With Eid approaching, he argued, many families could no longer afford shopping or even essential food items.

Transport fares have now been revised for the fifth time within a month following the latest fuel price adjustment. Non-AC buses increased fares by around five per cent, while AC transport witnessed even sharper jumps. Routes connecting Peshawar to cities including Nowshera, Mardan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Swat, and Malakand experienced fare increases ranging from Rs50 to Rs500. Long-distance passengers travelling to Rawalpindi and Lahore are reportedly paying as much as Rs3,000 more than before, as cited by The Express Tribune.

The fuel-driven inflation has also severely impacted flour prices. The cost of an 80-kilogram flour bag has surged by nearly Rs1,000, with premium varieties reaching Rs11,000. Smaller flour bags have also become significantly more expensive, while consumers claim local tandoors are shrinking roti sizes and charging higher rates. Residents blame the worsening crisis on government policies, restrictions on flour movement from Punjab, and unchecked inflation, warning that the poorest citizens are being pushed toward economic collapse, as reported by The Express Tribune.

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