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16 Feb, 2022

As you've heard (and bitterly cried about) by now — the government increased the prices of all petroleum products by Rs10 to Rs12 per litre on Tuesday, making the hike perhaps the highest-ever increase in one go. To cope, netizens turned to social media memes, as they usually do in times of collective national stress. Sadly, even humour and several helpings of Akshay Kumar memes weren't enough to numb the pain this time around.

The Ministry of Finance announced the decision after Prime Minister Imran Khan agreed to raise the levy on all petroleum products by Rs4 per litre to honour a commitment made with the IMF for smooth continuation of ongoing Extended Fund Facility (EFF). However, the GST rate on all these products was kept unchanged at zero. The statement said the PM approved the recommendation to increase the prices of petroleum products in line with a change in international oil prices.

On Twitter, sarcasm was used in abundance in an attempt to cope with the news.

"Mazaay kro Pakistaniyon [Have fun Pakistanis]," tweeted one user.

PM Imran Khan fell victim to some bitterly sarcastic tweets as well. Hell hath no fury like a desi man without fuel in his tank.

PTI supporters tried hard to keep their chin up in these difficult times but smiles soon turned into Akshay Kumar level tears.

Elsewhere on Twitter, Kumar made a reappearance as users hashed out ways to use petrol pumps now that no one can afford to visit them any longer. Fancy a '92 cricket world cup viewing at your nearest PSO?

Some old meme material was recycled in these desperate times. This one originally made its appearance during the petrol strike back in November. Petrol crises seem to be a running theme these days.

"I can't afford to travel to the meeting" is the perfect excuse for ditching plans now, because it's true.

Unless unless you're a kid with a tricycle, in which case feel free to zoom around.

Not many are laughing at #petrolprice memes on Twitter though. No amount of humour and Akshay Kumar memes can mask the increased difficulties many are anticipating after the petrol price hike.

While there's nothing like comedy to defuse some national-level tension, even Twitter meme-makers are finding it difficult to see the humour in a price hike that has left many breathless with worry across the nation. Pakistani Twitter has finally met its match — a Rs 12 petrol price hike.

Comments

M. Saeed Feb 16, 2022 03:50pm
This time, the PM accepting the proposal of Ogra, as it was sent by the Petroleum Ministry, is an indication that, the PM has exhausted all his powers against the IMF's demands and after 15 days, people should expect another steep rise in petroleum and other prices because, the PM is now completely out of his wits and expecting his exit soon.
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NYS Feb 16, 2022 03:57pm
Fuel price hike up to 12pkr it will effect the whole consumer service flip all market scenario... What is happening in this unlawful country
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Asif A Shah Feb 16, 2022 03:59pm
Petrol price hike in Pakistan will discourage people to drive around unnecessarily. It is a bitter pill that the Pakistanis need. It will help decrease pollution in cities like Lahore. Pakistanis need to be environmentally conscious.
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Dr. Salaria, Ahmed Part II Feb 16, 2022 04:01pm
Same is happening everywhere else in the world. So whats the big deal?
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Fastrack Feb 16, 2022 04:07pm
Pakistanis are way better off than Indians who have to pay Rs 43 as tax money, and still Indian economy ended up in worst recession.
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funnyman Feb 16, 2022 04:13pm
@Asif A Shah the kind of logic you would expect from a first grader Did you think these things like wheat, sugar, water, gas, pulses, vegetables etc grow under EVERY rock and do not have to be moved from farms to markets and from markets to shops so that you can buy them?
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abdul Feb 16, 2022 04:19pm
@Dr. Salaria, Ahmed Part II ap to Pehle b 100 ka dalwatay thy, ub bi 100 ka dalwayain gy. right?
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Wajahat Feb 16, 2022 04:37pm
@Asif A Shah what do you suggest people should do to go for their work? There is no infrastructure of public transport, cycling or even for walking on our streets.
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zaheer Feb 16, 2022 05:03pm
@Dr. Salaria, Ahmed Part II just because its happening everywhere in the world -- the problem does not exist?
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James Feb 16, 2022 05:15pm
@Fastrack hahaha, yeah right
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Aam aadmi Feb 16, 2022 05:18pm
Rs 160/Liter 1 US Gallon = 3.8L 160x3.8 = Rs 608/US Gallon 608/175 = $3.47 No difference in gas price between US and Pakistan
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ST Feb 16, 2022 05:41pm
Inflation turning to inflammation. Its all over the world. Recently I visited U.S and was surprised to see an immense price hike in almost everything. esp the petrol Moral .. Everyone is crying. So just sit down and join the group.
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Khany Feb 16, 2022 06:23pm
It's still far worse petrol hyke in the Westvand the rest of world. Pakistan still has cheapest petrol prices.
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Saad Feb 16, 2022 07:15pm
Unless Pakistanis start paying real taxes on their real income, payroll process will keep increasing and Pakistanis will keep crying.
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Zulfiqar Feb 16, 2022 07:33pm
@Khany but Pakistan does not have the same per capita income as western countries. So petrol price being the same here will not work.
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Zulfiqar Feb 16, 2022 07:34pm
@Aam aadmi please do an comparison of the per capita income of US and Pakistan also.
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nk Feb 16, 2022 08:16pm
Why we cannot understand that we have to embrace this price change. It is the international market that goes up the price of petrol goes up. We are paying over $5.00 here in California . A week ago it was $4.59 a US gallon which is 3.5 litres.
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A K A Feb 16, 2022 08:19pm
Try to adjust little bit more. There’s always room for some more. Countries increase taxes for betterment of the nation and you are getting an opportunity to participate in betterment of the nation.
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nk Feb 16, 2022 08:26pm
It is the governments failure or our educational institutions failure to teach the masses. proper applied economics.
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A shah Feb 16, 2022 09:40pm
I hope IK stays for another two terms. He is helping India
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Hamza waqar Feb 16, 2022 09:56pm
Early elections as result of No confidence by mid march ...or otherwise ..ap nay ghabrana nahi ha
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Duped Again Feb 16, 2022 10:01pm
Heavily tax luxury imports, pay your income taxes and subsidize fuel more.
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Sac Feb 16, 2022 10:26pm
@Fastrack Hence the right price for Pakistan is Rs 199 per liter.
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Sach ka rasta Feb 16, 2022 11:26pm
@Fastrack , If 7.5% GDP growth is called recession, then India is in recession !!!
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Sunil Feb 17, 2022 04:41am
The results of poor governance in the last 20 yrs by opposition parties. Hail the great Imran.
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Ali Feb 17, 2022 06:10am
@NYS nothing will happen... ppl will buy petrol even with a 100rs increase.. apart from arab countries its still cheapest in the world
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ram Feb 17, 2022 06:15am
@Fastrack Cheap comparison, Do you know sugar , rice, wheat, dal , cooking oil price in India ?
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Banti Feb 17, 2022 06:22am
@Fastrack good joke
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AKL Feb 17, 2022 07:40am
@Aam aadmi what about imcome
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Syed Feb 17, 2022 07:53am
We don't work really hard. We play in the hands of corrupt politicians. We want IMF to solve our problems but cry foul when they put their conditions. Don't blame the government. We should accept our responsibility.
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apakmuslim Feb 17, 2022 07:58am
Can hyundai kia tweet something better this time ?
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AJ Feb 17, 2022 08:18am
Everyone is complaining about the petrol price….if you use it you will have to pay for it. Not my Kobe to pay for your petrol, it is expensive everywhere theses days, even in the US which is an exporter of oil and gas…..
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Ravi Kumar Emani Feb 17, 2022 08:25am
Because of huge hike in petroleum prices in international market, there is no option with government. Another important thing citizens forgot that, any commodity rates dependent on SUPPLY and DEMAND. Why increase in demand? Just because of EXCESS POPULATION. Isn't it?
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SidC Feb 17, 2022 08:28am
@nk Stop comparing Petroleum prices with US or European countries. Or compare the pay scales. Even minimum wages there are more than white collar salary of Pakistan.
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Shehenshah Feb 17, 2022 09:05am
Aapne ghabrana nahi hai....Price will increase in coming months , this is still on lower side
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Shahid Haneef Feb 17, 2022 09:07am
@Wajahat - Pakistanis work? Seriously?
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Shahid Haneef Feb 17, 2022 09:11am
@Aam aadmi - yeah, but US per capita GDP IS $65,000. Pakistan’s is barely $1,400.
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thinking Feb 17, 2022 09:24am
Overseas pakistanis probably dont understand economy ,per capita at all. Seems like the less intelligent migrated, leaving the smart ones in pak
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Gully boy Feb 17, 2022 09:32am
@Fastrack He is stuck on india
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Firangi Feb 17, 2022 10:11am
@Aam aadmi big difference in income level’s
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Sam Feb 17, 2022 10:17am
I am in US. This morning I filled up my tank for 69 USD. That's 16 gallons.
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Nazim Feb 17, 2022 10:25am
Don’t feel bad Pakistan.. it’s terrible in USA as well
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Rajesh Feb 17, 2022 10:44am
@Aam aadmi Good calculation sir. Can you also compare the salary of a middle class citizen of USA and Pakistan
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Iqbal Bhai Feb 17, 2022 10:48am
@Asif A Shah There exactly is a meme for your point of view. Please read the article again.
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Asd Feb 17, 2022 12:00pm
@Zulfiqar global energy markets don’t care about country per capita. They have supply/demand based prices. Take it or leave it. Our government does not have fiscal space to buy expensive from global markets and subsidize for local consumption due to a poor tax culture. E.g. retail trade contributes 25% of GDP while tax contributions by retail are <.2% of total tax collected. Everyone, not just the salaried class and major industries should pay direct taxes for us to get out of this muck.
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Shah Feb 17, 2022 12:57pm
@Asif A Shah what you oh so wise say it about its impact on prices of commodities? Transport prices will jump, So will inflation. So will electricity, as Petro products are used in production, thus further increasing prices of commodities, but what do we poor jahils know, as we have prominent thinkers like you, which reminds me of the french episode of people not having bread and royalty suggesting ,they should eat cakes, you dear AAS are behaving exactly like the french royalty
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Ideological fool Feb 17, 2022 02:05pm
@Asif A Shah so you are an expatriate. please take IK with you as it seems you will like everything he does from your comfortable home outside Pakistan with affordable utilities in peaceful environment.
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Tanya Feb 18, 2022 12:28am
@nk you earn in dollars. That’s the difference. When you don’t have money you have a metro a decent bus service and the option to cycle or walk.
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parveez shafi Feb 18, 2022 03:36am
@Zulfiqar Pakistan does not get oil cheap. They have to pay what the rest of the world pays. Pleasure drive is no more.
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A Feb 18, 2022 04:57am
It can still be increased by 80 more.
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LAHORI KID Feb 18, 2022 08:35am
Ok, people need to get educated about oil prices, I’m not a PTI or Imran Khan supporter, neither has any say so in setting the prices, the global market does, if the government keeps the prices where they’re at, the government has to pay the difference, and at this point, government cannot afford to even keep the lights on.
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Shayar Feb 18, 2022 08:57am
@Aam aadmi Rs 160/Liter 1 US Gallon = 3.8L 160x3.8 = Rs 608/US Gallon 608/175 = $3.47 No difference in gas price between US and Pakistan Only difference is US per capita income in 60 times of Pakistani
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Secular Feb 18, 2022 09:32am
@Fastrack keep dreaming economist Indians enjoy better life than Pakistani. No one complain on prices in India.
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