By: Nuzair Ahmed Jamro
It is no denying the fact that prosperous life of common man is a blessing which is indirectly linked with wellbeing of nation state. It includes efficient delivery of services by the Government. Controlled Inflation, one of the features of economic Stability, is the biggest reason behind the well-being of people in any state.
World Happiness Report 2021 stated that Finland ranks as the world’s happiest country. It Perceives lack of corruption; it is safe and clean country with controlled Inflation. Denmark is the second happiest country in the world.
It is saddening to learn that developing country like Pakistan has been facing the menace of inflation which is increasing at an alarming rate each passing day; it results in rampant corruption and deadly adulteration in every edible things of daily use. According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), urban inflation increased by 12.2% yearly in April 2022.
Woefully, the rising Inflation has badly affected the people’s daily life and standard of living in Pakistan where a large number of people belong to poor strata of society. People who belong to different trades make all efforts to earn a livelihood using different adulteration techniques due to high inflation in the country. Various trade folks apply numerous strategies of adulteration to gain more profit in order to fulfill the needs of households even though its consequences are more health hazards.
In Pakistan, nowadays, it has become a daydream to get every edible item in its pure form with good quality such as Milk, Curd, oil, Ghee, black pepper, Chilly Powder and bottled water under the dark cloud of raising inflation. In order to overcome the negative impacts of inflation on households, adulterants including chemicals and powders are added by Greengrocer, Shopkeepers and trade folks. Such practice of adulteration, in regularly used edible items, leads to harmful effects on health such as Gastrointestinal disturbances and other stomach disorders.
According to a 2018 report by the PIMS (Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences), there was a 30% increase in reported gastro issues in just one year. Gastrointestinal issues have become common in Pakistan, due to poor living conditions and unsanitary food and contaminated water.
To Sum up, it is need of the hour that the government chalks out effective strategies to reduce the inflation to a large extent so that the common man can make both ends meet without being compelled to do ills by adulterating the daily use of edible items for the sake of livelihood. The tradesfolk must be given subsidies in order to facilitate them to offer good quality in edible foods. This panacea would win their hearts and soul and ensure happy and prosperous life besides the sound health for the common man in Pakistan.
The writer is a freelance columnist based in Karachi. He can be reached at [email protected]