In 2008 Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) formed government and Yousuf Raza Gilani took oath of office on 25th March 2008. On that day petrol price was Rs.62.81 per litre and in crude oil price in international market was $96.49 per barrel. Now the price of petrol in Pakistan has risen to Rs.94.91 per litre and now a day’s international market price of crude oil is between $110-115 per barrel.
In the past four years, petrol prices in Pakistan have gone up by a whopping 51 percent as oppose to an increase of 15 percent in the international market. In addition to this raise in petrol prices, prices of diesel and other petroleum product have also been raised. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) price has also been increased in the past four years.
Instead of reducing non development expenditure PPP led government have a very large number of cabinet and Pepco’s circular debt has crossed Rs.400 billion which is also a big problem.
I admit performance of the PPP government was not ideal, but it has set new standards of politics in a feudal society. Millions of hardcore poor have been awarded by employee’s stock scheme. First time in the history of Pakistan the poor workers became partner in the profit of organization. Countless homeless got free piece of land for a shelter. Education, first time in history got in to access of underprivileged. The bureaucracy became answerable to people and first time traditional power centre shifted from feudal to masses. As people got voices and realization of their right, the democracy became a platform where they can share power. This support base is purely an outcome of party performance and pro-poor policies which still makes its major vote-bank. This party does not have any direct conflict with Socialists; rather it acts in their support for secular, liberal and more equitable society.