KARACHI:
Each year as Ramazan approaches, most Pakistanis fear price hikes of common grocery items that are used during the month. This year many people are finding it particularly difficult to enjoy the month due to soaring food prices and frequent power and gas outages. The prices of dates are skyrocketing making them out-of-reach for the poor and even middle-income groups.
Families are forced to reduce their expenses by cutting out food items from their sehri and iftar meals. The queues outside welfare organisations’ free iftar arrangements are getting longer. The low and middle-income groups are more concerned about the skyrocketing prices than the political bickering.
Both the government and the opposition must realise that the people are least bothered about who wins the election when they are struggling to survive. The masses are being crushed by inflation and want affordable edible oil, ghee, sugar, and flour to have two square meals a day. The government must assume responsibility and control the prices of essential food items and ensure that these items are available at affordable rates throughout the year.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th , 2023.
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