MQM-P lawmakers decry soaring food, fuel prices

Call on PM to announce emergency relief package as onion, tomato and flour prices surge

KARACHI:

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmakers have expressed serious concern over the sharp rise in prices of essential food items and petroleum products, calling on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take immediate notice and announce emergency relief measures for the public.

In a joint statement issued on Sunday, the MQM-P's elected representatives said the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reflected a "backbreaking" increase in the cost of living, particularly affecting low- and middle-income households.

They said onion prices had surged by 132.52% year-on-year, tomatoes by 93.21% and flour by 62.25%, describing the increases as an "economic murder" of poor and lower-middle-class families.

The lawmakers said LPG prices had risen by 51.69% during the same period, while diesel and petrol had become 33.08% and 27.65% more expensive, respectively.

They said higher fuel prices had directly increased transportation and production costs, further burdening ordinary consumers.

Prices of bananas rose by 17.66%, mutton by 15.98% and beef by 13.54%, they added, saying the rising cost of basic food items had made it increasingly difficult for low-income families to afford even two meals a day.

The MQM-P lawmakers acknowledged that prices of some commodities had declined, including potatoes by 30%, sugar by 19.10%, chicken by 17.68%, eggs by 17.41%, gram pulse by 13%, red lentils by 12.29% and jaggery by 6%.

However, they said the partial relief had been effectively wiped out by steep increases in petrol, diesel and essential kitchen items.

The lawmakers urged the prime minister to immediately intervene to curb profiteering and unchecked price increases, announce an emergency relief package for petroleum products and essential food items, and take strict action against profiteers and hoarders.

They said urgent measures were needed to ease the economic difficulties faced by the public and provide relief to ordinary citizens.