By: Asem Mustafa Awan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to give a free hand to the district administration and law enforcement agencies to take action against hoarders and illegal profiteers.
After a delay of 10 months, the decision from the Prime Minister against the elements causing artificial inflation has surfaced but in this delay people of Pakistan faced worst inflation in basic commodities.
Controlling inflation, maintaining law and order and ensuring employment are the primary functions of the government. The common man appreciates a government that meets these standards, while the government that ignores problems of the common man and gets involved in power struggles does not win the trust of the people.
The people of Pakistan are right to understand that the PDM government has not helped the people heave a sigh of relief even for a single day.
The Prime Minister and his cronies enjoy protocols and perks and total number of ministers, ministers of state, advisers and special assistants in the cabinet has reached 85 and this number is likely to increase.
In the same lines, the prime minister was repeatedly requested to have mercy on the nation facing economic crisis and limit the number of cabinet members to fifteen and not long ago prime minister held a press conference with the leaders of the coalition parties announcing that his cabinet members will not receive government vehicles, perks, petrol and salaries.
It was but after two days, the chief organizer of his party, having no official position, went to Sargodha along with 20 official vehicles and staff. This was clearly a violation of the Prime Minister’s own decision. There are many other incidents as ministers and advisers continue to enjoy their ‘exalted status’.
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders had strong justification against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf government because inflation increased under PTI government.
During PTI’s regime ,inflation as per statistics was at 9 percent which resulted in parties forming PDM holding sit-ins, rallies and marches against inflation but in 10 months the very inflation has skyrocketed and is currently at 41.60 percent.
No serious effort has been made by the government to control this unprecedented price hike and problems of the common man have been put aside and government is witnessed in doing political maneuvering.
It is no secret that every government department and official is used by the political parties for their own purposes and when commoner is put aside.
Faced with price hike, the question arises that many items that have raised prices are produced in Pakistan and their price should remain stable and rupee devaluation against dollar should not affect local produce.
Flour crisis is one example that is the staple food of the country and the price of this item is now out of reach from the commoner.
The decision to combat the profiteers has come after quite a delay but now the decision is taken from the government the results from this is awaited.
The country faced with flour crisis has government doing political and legal maneuvering for the elections that are written in constitution to be held within 90 days.