Food smuggling

In view of the frequent shortages of basic food items, Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered a countrywide crackdown on smuggling out of foodstuffs. With general inflation running at 13.07% and food inflation at over 22%, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the common people to make ends meet. The PM has full realisation of the difficulties being faced by the people as is evident from the measures that his government is taking to ease the inflationary pressure and to make basic commodities available at affordable prices. Recently, the government announced a subsidy of Rs15 billion for utility stores, and this step has resulted in providing the common people the much-needed relief. Through their purchase of grocery items from utility stores, people made a saving of Rs1,000 per month on an average.

With regard to the crackdown on food smuggling the PM has asked intelligence agencies to submit regular monitoring reports. This shows the seriousness on the part of the government to eliminate the menace of smuggling. Presiding over a special meeting on Tuesday, the PM said smuggling of food items out of the country triggered an increase in their prices, and as a result the common man suffered. He told government officials that there was no room for complacency on the issue of providing relief to the masses. On the same day, the PM presided over another meeting on reduction in petroleum and gas prices. This measure too is aimed at bringing down the general price level. If steps against food smuggling and at controlling energy prices are taken in tandem, their combined effect will surely give the desired results.

Hoarders and smugglers take advantage of laxity on the part of government officials and make windfall gains especially in difficult times. Since shortages are regularly occurring after the PTI-led government assumed office, there is a strong possibility of the shortages having been engineered. Maintaining food prices at a reasonable level is of utmost importance. The hungry has to be kept quiet.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2020.

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