‘Petrol too expensive’: PTI lawmakers ride donkey carts to Sindh Assembly

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers arrived at the Sindh Assembly on donkey carts on Friday in protest against high petroleum prices, saying rising fuel costs had made it difficult for them to travel to the provincial legislature in their vehicles.

The lawmakers, carrying placards and chanting slogans against the increase in petroleum prices, rode donkey carts from an area near the assembly building to its main gate.

PTI lawmaker Sajjad Soomro said that the protest was aimed at highlighting the impact of rising fuel prices on the public.

“Petrol has become so expensive that we cannot come to the assembly in our vehicles,” he said.

The PTI members demanded that the government withdraw the increase in petroleum prices and provide relief to consumers.

The protest came as the Sindh Assembly convened for its Friday sitting at 3pm.

According to the official agenda, the session included questions and answers relating to the Universities and Boards Department, three call-attention notices concerning drinking water problems in Latifabad and Hyderabad, difficulties faced by University of Sindh students seeking admission to third-year classes, and measures to improve the Cardiac Medical Centre in Landhi.

The agenda also included an adjournment motion concerning the poor maintenance of pedestrian bridges and consideration of the Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

The fuel-price protest follows growing concern among lawmakers over the rising cost of petroleum products.

Earlier this week, the Sindh Assembly unanimously adopted an opposition resolution calling on the federal government to abolish the petroleum levy.

The resolution was moved by Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Muhammad Farooq, while Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar said the matter fell within the federal government’s jurisdiction.

The assembly also saw discussion this week on a PTI resolution calling on the federal government to stop passing daily fluctuations in global oil prices on to consumers.

The government has also introduced a fuel relief scheme for eligible motorcycles, rickshaws and vehicles with engines of up to 800cc amid the increase in fuel costs.