Amidst stampede

Over 12 people, majority older women, died in a stampede in their earnest hope and endeavour to collect alms

Economic desperation is at its zenith. People are in a fix while managing their purse, and sky-rocketing inflation that is now to the tune of 45% has made lives miserable. A testimony of the despicable situation was witnessed in Karachi as more than 12 people, most of them women in their old ages, died in a stampede in their earnest hope and endeavour to collect alms at an industrial site. The fact that people pile up at places where they expect benevolence, or discounted products, is an indicator of the abyss in which the society has plunged, and their economic devastation speaks volumes of bad governance and chaos prevalent in the country.

The panic and low-down at the SITE area replicates similar scenes witnessed countrywide at queues where free flour is in distribution. The have-nots are ready to risk their lives for a bag of free or subsidised flour, and in the last couple of weeks more than 10 people have died either in suffocation of lines or in rush on the mill. This is a sorry state of affairs, and something serious is in need of being done. The depreciation of the rupee, slump in production and uneven distribution of resources have pushed masses to hunger and despair, and coupled with massive unemployment and lack of purchasing power, it paints a horrible picture of days to come.

It seems the worst is yet to come. The Finance Ministry the other day hinted at a new round of inflation, as it counted down its woes in its inability to strike a deal with the IMF, and the soaring balance of payments dilemma. With fears that petroleum and electricity prices will see another jack-up, people are in a mess and literally none are sure what is the way out. It goes without saying that no proper austerity measures were adopted by the government in cutting down on perks and privileges and in slashing the non-developmental expenditure. The status quo is alarming, and could lead to a visible civil strife. The least that is needed is to micromanage the prices of essential products, and ensure two square meals for all.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd, 2023.

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