Transporters | Pakistan

• Prices of vegetables, fruits, construction materials, essential commodities also surge • Citizens, businesses reject fuel price increase despite provincial relief measures • LCCI warns of higher production costs, reduced export competitiveness LAHORE: Transporters have incre­ased fares by up to 30 per cent following the recent fuel price hike, stressing that the government’s subsidy was insufficient to offset rising operational costs. Moreover, the record increase in petroleum prices has also caused a massive surge in the prices of vegetables, fruits, construction materials and several other items. On the other hand, the public at large has rejected the sharp increase in fuel prices despite some relief measures announced by the provincial governments. “Why has the government massively increased petroleum prices twice without considering how people, already burdened by inflation, will survive?” a motorist said while speaking to Dawn at a petrol pump in Gulberg on Friday. “From tomorrow onwards, I will stop u...