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Pakistanis logged onto X on Saturday morning with one collective mood: rage. The reason? A massive Rs55 overnight hike in petrol prices, pushing the cost of petrol to more than Rs321 per litre and diesel to about Rs335 per litre — one of the sharpest single increases in recent years.

Prior to the announcement, there was already panic buying at petrol pumps, long queues across major cities and — unsurprisingly — a torrent of furious posts online against hoarders. But while the internet is often prone to exaggeration, this anger feels justified.

After all, the hike didn’t happen in a vacuum. It is tied to the rapidly escalating conflict in the Middle East that has sent global oil prices soaring.

According to the government, the increase reflects a sharp spike in international oil prices triggered by the war and fears of supply disruptions. Pakistan, which imports a large share of its petroleum, is particularly vulnerable to global price swings. Authorities insist the move was unavoidable and say prices will now be reviewed weekly because of the volatile global market.

But explanations rarely soothe people who still have to pay the bill.

‘Don’t only punish the people’

The Rs55 jump — dubbed a “petrol bomb” by commentators — set off a wave of anger online, with many people questioning why austerity measures always seem to stop at the public.

Many decried fuel allowances given to government officials, calling for them to be suspended during this time. Government officials and bureaucrats receive different fuel allowances depending on their grades. Punjab recently revised its Motor Transport Policy, under which the chief secretary and IGP are separately entitled to three vehicles – one official vehicle up to 2800cc, one touring vehicle up to 4700cc and one personal use vehicle up to 1800cc. The official and personal use vehicles are entitled to 500 litres and 300 litres petrol per month respectively, while touring vehicles’ petrol is based on actual consumption.

In 2023, Islamabad’s CDA announced a 40 per cent cut on fuel being used by the chairman and members of the board and 30pc cut for other officers. The maximum limit for the chairman and members’ offices was capped at 400 and 300 litres per month respectively.

“Petrol should not be free for any government official or bureaucrat during this time in Pakistan,” one user wrote. “If the common public can suffer and make sacrifices, why can’t they spend a little too?”

Others echoed the sentiment.

For many, the sheer scale of the increase was what made it feel surreal.

Others approached the situation with the kind of gallows humour Pakistanis often deploy when the economy delivers another blow.

One person wrote “They’ve made petrol more expensive. Who’s going to shut down my office then?”

Another suggested a solution dripping with sarcasm: “Can’t our ministers and all other decision makers start working from home?!”

The ripple effect everyone is dreading

The anger is also rooted in something more practical — petrol price hikes rarely stay confined to petrol pumps. When fuel becomes more expensive, transport fares rise, food prices increase and delivery costs go up, triggering a chain reaction across the economy.

So when Pakistanis saw the Rs55 hike announced late Friday night, many immediately understood what it likely means for the weeks ahead.

“A Rs55 per litre jump in petroleum prices will not just be felt at the pump. It will be felt in every kitchen, every bus fare, every small business struggling to stay afloat,” wrote MNA Sharmila Faruqi. “At a time when people are already battling inflation, unemployment and shrinking livelihoods, this decision adds yet another weight on shoulders that are already carrying too much.”

One user believed that a hike like this would also exacerbate lawlessness on the roads, where desperate drivers might resort to risky shortcuts to save even a few rupees.

Actor Maya Ali also weighed in on the issue via her Instagram stories, questioning the logic behind raising petrol prices when officials have warned that reserves are already running low. She asked whether such a spike would magically increase reserves.

One thing is clear, a jump of this magnitude signals darker days ahead. It’s not just about filling up a tank, it’s about the creeping sense that the cost of everyday life will rise faster than anyone’s ability to keep up. And the anger isn’t just about the price itself. Much of it is focused on the imbalance between ordinary citizens tightening their belts and officials enjoying state-funded perks.