Former finance minister Miftah Ismail has criticized what he calls a repeated pattern in government decision-making, arguing that policy outcomes consistently favor powerful industry groups while ordinary citizens are left to absorb the cost.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he said recent fuel price adjustments have once again highlighted this imbalance, claiming that different sectors benefit depending on policy changes while the general public faces higher expenses.

He alleged that oil marketing companies gain from petrol price revisions, while refineries benefit from changes in diesel pricing. Similarly, he said fertilizer producers remain advantaged during periods of rising urea costs, putting additional pressure on farmers.

Miftah also pointed to earlier instances, including the sugar sector, where he claimed consumers were impacted by higher prices, and wheat procurement periods, during which stockists and intermediaries allegedly benefited more than growers.

He further argued that government spending patterns continue to favor political elites, ministers, parliamentarians, and senior bureaucrats, while taxpayers face increasing financial strain.

According to him, this cycle has left little relief for the average citizen, adding that real incomes in Pakistan remain lower compared to 2014 levels.