Pakistani actress and beloved public figure Maya Ali has voiced the frustration of millions of ordinary Pakistanis after the government announced a historic Rs 55 per litre increase in petrol and diesel prices, right in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan.
In a heartfelt online post, Maya asked what everyone was thinking but few celebrities dared to say out loud, how much more can people take? She pointed out that families across Pakistan are already stretched thin by months of rising prices, and that Ramadan is supposed to bring some financial breathing room, not more economic pain.
Her words hit home because the numbers are genuinely alarming. Petrol jumped to Rs 321.17 per litre and diesel soared to Rs 335.86 per litre, both rising by a massive Rs 55 per litre, effective from midnight on March 6, 2026.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar explained that the war between Iran, the US, and Israel had directly pushed global petroleum prices up by 50 to 70 percent worldwide, leaving the government with little choice but to pass on the increase to consumers.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik called it an extraordinary situation, acknowledging that the conflict, which began in a neighbouring country has now spread across the wider region with no clear end in sight.
But for millions of Pakistani families sitting at the iftar table this Ramadan, political explanations offer little comfort. Transport fares are rising, grocery prices are climbing, and the cost of daily life keeps getting heavier, all during the one month of the year when people hoped for some relief.
