THE generic term for fuel in the local vernacular is "petrol". So when the government reduces the price of petrol by five rupees, it is to be met with relief by the general public. Only later do the plebeians realize that the fuel that affects them far more directly, diesel, has had a price hike of Rs. 3.50 per litre. It now stands at Rs 60 per litre. Diesel is the where-it's-at as far as fuel costs in the country are concerned. To put things in perspective: there is 1:8 ratio between usages of petrol and diesel. This is going to have a direct bearing on the prices of a lot of commodities. First of all, diesel-fuelled freighting rates for commodities are going to go higher, resulting in price hikes in the goods market. Second, diesel-fuelled public transport fares are going to go higher. But dismissing the reduction in petrol prices as beneficial only to the elite would not be correct. Motorcycle and scooter owners, a larger, less affluent demographic than car owners in the urban centres, are definitely going to benefit from the decrease. Criticizing the government at every opportunity one gets might not be in good taste. International fuel markets are, after all, in a state of madness. But it would be better, then, if our government were to have a method to its madness as far as pricing is concerned. We need to know with more clarity what the different factors are that go into OGRA recommendations and Finance Division approvals to the former. If a hike in the international prices of crude is used to justify price hikes, then why doesn't the argument hold, like it should now, when the price of Arabian light crude has fallen to $87 per barrel? The relation between crude prices and end-consumer prices are moderated by a number of variables. They all need to be brought to light. If the consumers cannot have cheap fuel, they at least deserve transparency.