Amid severe economic crisis, prices of food times have increased by at least 50% in Pakistan and because of loan conditions, government is not even in position to subsidise them for the middle class and poor.
Read it all here...........This year, Ramazan in Pakistan will be tougher than previous years for many low and middle-income group people due to skyrocketing prices, Pakistan-based Dawn newspaper reported.
During Ramazan, after over 12 hours of fasting, people try to enjoy lavish iftar by arranging many items. But many people with mediocre wages and salaries are likely to limit their purchases this year, according to Dawn. The responsibility thus lies with the government to ensure the availability of edible items at cheaper rates not only throughout the year but especially in the holy month.
It is, however, hard to expect any special measures to bring price relief, as the government continues to remain engaged in political and economic chaos and hopes for approval of the International Monetary Fund loan (IMF).
The Pakistan government is not in any position to offer any huge subsidies or duty/taxes relaxations to lower prices. Any efforts to curtail prices by lowering taxes and duties may irk the IMF ahead of loan approval. And a price fall of 10-20 per cent will not appease consumers unless they plummet by at least 30-40 pc.
General Secretary Karachi Retail Grocers Group Farid Qureishi, as quoted by Dawn, said “I am making two types of ration packs for charity distribution for Ramazan in the holy month: one bag costs Rs 4,000 and carries flour, sugar, rice, pulses, tea, salt, oil and ghee, gram and vermicelli. The other ration bag costs Rs 6,000 and has more quantity of products.”
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