Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter to slam the move.

In his speech, the prime minister said his government had no choice but to raise petrol prices.

However, no one seemed prepared for the 1:30 am announcement.

As is often the case, social media users' creativity was on full display.

That people can find humor to sum up economic crises is an example of that creativity.

The anger is largely directed at the government's inability to manage the crisis.

But there's a particular disappointment leveled at Imran Khan.

It's not unusual for someone to dig up an old statement or video of Imran Khan's vowing to do things differently when he's in power. The new price hike was no exception.

The responses range in levels of hilarity but it doesn't take away from it being a sad state of affairs.