Skyrocketed prices may hinder Ramazan 2023 in Pakistan: Report

Pakistan: Ramazan in Pakistan this year will be much tougher than the old times, especially for the people belonging to middle-class families and low-income groups due to the continuous raising prices of basic household products, reported Pakistan-based Dawn newspaper.

Skyrocketed prices may hinder Ramazan 2023 in Pakistan: Report
Skyrocketed prices may hinder Ramazan 2023 in Pakistan: Report (image credits google)

Pakistan: Ramazan in Pakistan this year will be much tougher than the old times, especially for the people belonging to middle-class families and low-income groups due to the continuous raising prices of basic household products, reported Pakistan-based Dawn newspaper.

According to the Dawn newspaper, after almost 12 hours of fasting during Ramzan, people expect to enjoy lavish Iftar, which includes many food items. Unlike this year, many people with low-income standards in Pakistan will not be able to follow the previous trends during the Ramzan as they will have to limit their purchases.

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The reports further read that the government of Pakistan is held responsible for providing edible items at cheaper rates to their population, especially in the holy month of Ramzan, along with throughout the year. While considering the current economic crises in Pakistan, the government are not likely to provide any special relief to the people in terms of prices due to their engagement in political and economic chaos.

Pakistan is also seeking approval from the International Monetary Fund Loan (IMF). The current crisis in the country does not allow the government to offer any huge subsidies or help on duty/taxes relaxation, which could result in lower prices, said Dawn.

On his part, Farid Qureishi, General Secretary of Karachi Retail Grocers Group, said, “I am providing two packs in ration packs for distribution during Ramzan in the holy month, as Rs 4000 is set for one bag which carries flour, rice, sugar, pulses, salt, tea, ghee and oil along with gram and vermicelli.

Moreover, the other ration bag ranges to Rs 6000 which holds the products in large quantities; during the last Ramzan, the items were presented in the markets at 40-50 pc lower rates, but we were not able to add good quality rice as basmati rice which sells between Rs 300-500 per kilograms as compared to Rs 150-300 per Kilogram in the previous year, he added.  

A chicken dealer in Federal B Area said, “I am putting only four crates carrying 40 live birds as compared to eight crates when prices were low. 

Due to high prices, many of our regular customers just buy only one bird for the entire week’s consumption from two to three birds previously.” 

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A grocery retailer in a residential area who offers products on credit on the condition that the bill is cleared in a month said: “I have witnessed at least 20-30 per cent jump in my register in the last year as more new people are coming up to get included in the list.”

He added that due to the cash flow situation, he could not add more people. Many also default and seek extra time to clear dues. He said there are many people whose salaries fade away in the middle of the month. 

According to Dawn, the intensity of price increases in food items may push many low-income people towards long queues of welfare organisations’ arrangements of free Iftari and Sehri. However, a white-collar person may find it difficult to sacrifice his self-respect and opt for limiting Iftar. (ANI)

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