Karachi: People queuing to receive free petrol at a pump located in the vicinity of Services Hospital, Lahore on September 22, 2023, under Bahria and JDC campaign: Screengrab responding to the crippling effects of relentless inflation and soaring fuel prices on the most vulnerable segments of society, real estate tycoon and Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz Hussain has initiated a campaign to provide free petrol to those in need.
Friday marked a significant milestone as impoverished bikers were given free petrol worth RS 1,000 at a petrol pump near Services Hospital in Lahore.
This philanthropic endeavor is being personally led by Malik Riaz Hussain, and his son, the Chief Executive of Bahria Town, Ali Riaz Malik. The campaign aims to bring relief to those who find it increasingly challenging to cope with the rising cost of living in Pakistan.
Bahria Town Country Head Shahid Mehmood Qureshi explained that the initiative was initially launched in Karachi and has now expanded to Lahore, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi. Under the campaign, 1,000 motorcycles per day at specified petrol stations will receive free petrol worth RS 1,000 each.
Mr. Shahid Mehmood Qureshi expressed concerns over the alarming levels of inflation, saying, “Inflation has reached unprecedented heights, making it extremely difficult for ordinary citizens to make ends meet. For a working person with a monthly salary of 25 to 30 thousand rupees, survival has become a daily struggle.”
The initiative has received widespread appreciation from various quarters, including social media Zafar Abbas, who is also a philanthropist. Abbas, who runs the Jafriya Disaster Management Cell (JDC) welfare organization, extended his gratitude to Malik Riaz for his swift response to the economic challenges faced by the underprivileged. He further announced his intention to extend this campaign across Pakistan, starting with Lahore. It is worth noting that the JDC had already commenced a similar free petrol drive in Karachi earlier this week.
Citizens who benefited from these generous initiatives expressed their delight, emphasizing that, for a brief moment, they were relieved from the burden of certain daily expenses. The campaign has resonated with many as it aims to provide a glimmer of hope in the face of economic hardships, offering a tangible solution to one of the pressing issues confronting the nation.
