With the next national budget just round the corner, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) and Oil and Gas Regularly Authority have proposed a 10 percent and 3.5 percent increase in electricity and gas tariffs respectively. Nepra’s move has come in the wake of an increase in fuel prices in April, which increased the cost of power generation in thermal plants and led it to propose the increased power tariffs for all consumers of Wapda’s distribution companies. This is in addition to the two percent monthly increase in power tariffs as part of the conditionalities of the IMF. The good part is that this increase will not be applicable to consumers whose consumption is less than 50 units. However, its cumulative impact, combined with that of increase in fuel and gas prices, is going to be devastating for ordinary citizens. The increase in gas tariffs is meant to meet the revenue targets of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Pipelines Limited (SSGPL) for the financial year 2011-12, but this is going to have a serious impact on gas consumers. The country is already undergoing double-digit inflation, which, according to independent estimates, hovers around 14 percent. This year’s budget is not expected to bring any respite for the people either, as we are going through extraordinarily difficult economic circumstances in the aftermath of massive floods, a spike in terrorist incidents in 2011, and the energy crisis, which has slowed down economic activity. Moreover, Pakistan has been unable to meet the conditionalities of the IMF, which has blocked the next instalment of the standby loan agreement. To add to our woes, tension in Pak-US relations in the aftermath of Osama’s killing on Pakistan’s soil has jeopardised the substantial aid Pakistan receives from the US. With a cash-strapped government, mounting taxes and rising fuel and electricity costs, it is beyond comprehension how are the ordinary citizens making ends meet. If this trend continues, it will not be long before the disgruntled public, not able to meet its basic needs, will come out on the streets. The government should wake up to the plight of ordinary citizens and give them some relief. *