To have or have not
A combination of price rise and the coronavirus pandemic is increasingly impoverishing the masses and turning many haves into have-nots. And this is the meanest thing about inflation. One does not have to go to government offices or contact experts to know this. Daily experience is sufficient to convince one of the ruinous effects of price rise and inflation. The current trend of rising prices resulting from shortage of essential commodities is obviously the result of complacency on the part of the government and the alleged machinations of furtively-active mafia groups. Prices of essential food items have increased so much that now even after cutting down on the consumption of some items through various permutations and combinations the common people are left with no savings. All this has compelled people of limited means to go on tightening their belts.
The government is taking measures to control prices. It has set up sahulat bazaars in urban areas where essential commodities are to be provided at rates lower than those prevailing in the open market. Officials reportedly often visit these bazaars to ensure that commodities are available at the officially-fixed prices. Unfortunately, even at these markets vendors are selling food and other items above the fixed prices. Reports show that at most sahulat bazaars in Lahore, essential commodities of substandard quality are being sold at premium prices. In cities, vegetables are gradually disappearing from the market.
Recently, the government increased the prices of medicines, saying it would help ensure availability of drugs and streamline the supplies. Even then, nine out of ten times medicines are not available in the market in one visit. One or two medicines are available on one day, and people get other drugs after making rounds of markets over several days. The government needs to focus simultaneously on controlling prices and taking strict actions against those causing artificial shortages. There is already murmur of dissent over runaway prices even within the ruling coalition. This does not augur well for the government.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2020.
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