Look at the people who are grumbling everyday due to inflation that is on the rise with every new day. If the Prime Minister is sincere to the nation and wants well-being of the people, he should withdraw all the increases made in petroleum and gas rates and electricity, ensure strict control on inflation.
Inflation breeds poverty and beyond any doubt poverty is root cause of all evils. The entire social issues rise owing to deviance and unfortunately our country is victim of such a deviance.
Look at the people who are grumbling everyday due to inflation that is on the rise with every new day. The very recent occurrence is rise in the petroleum rates resulting in the skyrocketing prices of daily use items.
There is no logic to raise the prices of petrol, as the rates in the international market are static. If it is a compulsion because country is suffering from debt and deficit in the economy, and the government desires revenue to be generated to pay the loan installment, there could be no justification to raise the prices of compressed natural gas (CNG) which is produced in the country.
Inflation jumped to 14.6 percent, highest in the last one decade. Food inflation in urban areas rose by 19.5 percent in January on a yearly basis and 2.5 percent on a monthly basis whereas it increased by 23.8 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively, in rural areas. These figures clearly show that food inflation is very high in rural areas where most of the population lives.
Poverty is like venom, as it devours not only the indigent people like salaried and daily wager class. Since the current government took power in August2018, more than half a million people every month on average fell below the poverty line.
The inflation has become most incurable disease for Pakistan and our people have become very vulnerable to it. Nearly 39 percent of Pakistanis live under multidimensional poverty. More than a third of Pakistan’s population is living below the poverty line. Balochistan has the highest rate of poverty while Sindh comes second, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
The price-hike and poverty are giving strength to the corruption. The low-income class and the salaried persons are unable to meet the everyday expenses of the family. They will go for practice of the corruption. Even if one has never done corruption in his entire professional career, the inflation will compel him to indulge in corruption to meet his daily expenses.
Petrol prices are not only disabling the poor people to survive but also creating a space for deviance. Whenever there is inflation it breeds poverty as well. The suffrage of poverty will go for misdemeanor crimes such as theft, robbery, dacoity and such other crimes. The inflation is entailing our country in number fifth most expensive countries in the world.
The inflation and resulting poverty are making life miserable and causing mental stress. Everyday useable commodity is becoming out of the reach of people. How one can meet with the expenses of healthcare, education, utility bills, house rents, transport fares etc. Mounting inflation is handicapping the social standing of the people. The cost of electricity, travel, and basic edibles are touching sky rise status. In such deplorable conditions, the poor are becoming poor and the rich are getting rich and enjoying the life.
When the high inflation joins hand with poverty, it becomes unbearable. Life becomes more miserable and painful.
If the Prime Minister is sincere to the nation and wants well-being of the people, he should withdraw all the increases made in petroleum and gas rates and electricity, ensure strict control on inflation. Moreover, he should cuts off all the perks and privileges, he and the federal as well as provincial ministers are receiving. The ministers are already rich with bank balances and have side businesses. If they don’t take the salary from the government, even then they will live a luxurious life. The money saved from their expenditure may be spent on the poor people.
In this way, our people will get some relief from inflation and poverty.
Mujeeb Ali Samo
Larkana, Sindh
