Pakistan Views

Prices of food items, the main staples of daily kitchen routine in all families (like wheat, rice, cooking oil, sugar, milk fruits, vegetables, etc-etc) have been on the rise internationally and in the domestic market, in fits and starts. The prices may jump one day, stabilise for a few days till the market adjusts to the idea, and leap once more, and some times make a sustained run upwards.These are a basic factor among causes for inflation. Add to that a host of other price hikes, like fuel, energy, natural disasters and man-made hits on individual budgets like taxes, levies, hikes in utility bills etc-etc, and you get a situation to drive any body crazy.The purpose here is not to analyse the psychology of people at large, but to prepare them mentally to face even worse situations before things can improve. It was hardly a few months ago that the rising prices of wheat and its scarcity led to create even unrest among a large number of people in the country. It is beyond human ingenuity to cure certain social evils, like greed and selfishness, crimes (petty or large), violence and transgression.These have been there since humanity first evolved, and are not likely to disappear any day soon. We cannot stop hoarding, black-marketing, smuggling and other activities that pile up miseries on the head of an already overburdened bread-earner.Market economy and free enterprise sanction a lot of misdemeanours and felonies, which would not be allowed in any morally correct and decent society. Unfortunately, we live in a world where decency is the last thing one ever thinks about. So we have to fight the market forces to keep our own balance. And that brings me to the point I wish to make here.A headline in yesterday’s Business Recorder read: “Indian rice export curbs to boost world prices,” datelined New Delhi. It appears that the government of India has drastically curtailed the export of rice from an annual 5.5 million tons, to a miserly 250,000 tonnes.This has brought down prices in the Indian domestic market, (delighting the poor and needy) but caused a shortage world-wide and consequent boost in international prices. Exporters in Pakistan will be happy to earn extra dollars, but the poor consumer in the country will have to pay through his nose to feed himself and his family.Only, in Pakistan, we have an extra and unusual phenomenon. Even when there is a surplus, the manipulators want to squeeze the consumers to fill their own over-inflated coffers. The recent wheat crisis is a case in point. Earlier it was sugar. Soon to join the list are cooking oil, milk and dairy products, while fruits and vegetables have already hit eerie heights. Milk is now selling @ Rs 42 per litre.
The gloom doesn’t end there. The world picture portends to be gloomier still, bringing in its wake more of the same for millions of poor in so many countries, although it could bring windfall profits for some. And these latter are the ones that count in the economic world. So at least, there is something to cheer about, even if only for a minuscule few.
So good news for all those who thrive on shortages, high prices, inflation and other people’s misery. They are going to have a field day, crying all the way to the bank!
The dark clouds do have a silver lining after all. The country ’s foreign exchange earnings will depict a spurt, most welcome news to the exchequer. And may be, the extra funds will move the authorities to think of lessening the burden on ordinary citizens somewhat, even though it is a far cry.