Dharejo raises alarm over rise in inflation, suicide rates

Price hikes contributing to surge in suicide rates and psychological problems in Pakistan

KARACHI:

Sindh Industries and Commerce Minister Jam Ikramullah Dharejo raised concerns over rising inflation on Saturday, saying that price hikes were contributing to the surge in suicide rates and psychological problems in Pakistan.

“The news of increase in petroleum products’ prices is a matter of concern,” he said in a statement issued on the day, and sounded alarmed over the reports of a decline in investment and exports in the country.

Dharejo maintained that it was due to the “incompetence of the selected rulers” and their poor economic policies that inflation and poverty had soared in the country, and suicide rates were on the rise among the poor.

“People are suffering from psychological issues in the face of rising prices and growing unemployment,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2021.