The crushing weight of inflation: Does anybody care about Pakistan's people plight?

[FearlessRoar]

The streets of Pakistan are filled with the sounds of despair. Families are struggling to make ends meet, their incomes stretched to the limit by soaring prices. The once-thriving markets now stand empty, a testament to the devastating impact of the economic crisis.

The latest Asian Development Outlook report may boast of a promising 5% economic growth for the region, but for Pakistan, the reality is starkly different. Our inflation rate remains elevated, our debt suffocating, and our revenue allocated mostly towards debt repayment.

But behind these numbers are real people, real stories, and real struggles. The father who works multiple jobs to feed his family, the mother who sacrifices her own meals to ensure her children have food, the young adult who graduates from university with a degree but no job prospects, and the elderly who must choose between medicine and food.

The people of Pakistan deserve better. We deserve a government that cares about our struggles, our hardships, and our future. We deserve a government that prioritizes our needs, not just the interests of the elite. We deserve a government that takes concrete steps to address our economic challenges and ensures a brighter future for all Pakistanis.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

@FearlessRoar didn't you want this government?

 

[ElRaja]

The people of Pakistan deserve better.

why?

pakistanis have gotten exactly what they deserve, this is the price to pay for decades of divisive, ethnocentric, patronage politics.

 

[Kianig89]

Pakistan is a mess, commodity prices sky high, fuel etc out of reach, insane tax rates, add to it the time bomb of electricity bill every month just suking out the juice if somebody has any.

Industries being shut down due to high fixed cost add to it the interest rates have ensured that people keep their money in banks, sadly no political parry has a comprehensive solution

 

[FearlessRoar]

@FearlessRoar didn't you want this government?

Yes and I don't want Imran Khan's government either

 

[FearlessRoar]

why?

pakistanis have gotten exactly what they deserve, this is the price to pay for decades of divisive, ethnocentric, patronage politics.

This is the price of poor management and instability

 

[Bhaijaan]

It’s a temporary phase. This government is pro business and will keep looking for new avenues to generate revenue. It’s much better than previous regime when you had a corrupt PM who even sold state secrets for money.

 

[ElRaja]

This is the price of poor management and instability

who tolerated the establishment when they broke the country, when they picked and chose civilian leaders, and who chose the civilian leaders who appealed to only the most base and divisive tribalism?

the people of Pakistan are squarely to blame for the mess that country has become, Pakistan has got the leaders the people deserved.

 

[FearlessRoar]

who tolerated the establishment when they broke the country, when they picked and chose civilian leaders, and who chose the civilian leaders who appealed to only the most base and divisive tribalism?

the people of Pakistan are squarely to blame for the mess that country has become, Pakistan has got the leaders the people deserved.

Well somehow you are right, this nation gather at chowks for stupid politicians , but they never protested and gather like a sea for their basic rights or against inflation.

 

[Varun]

The first and only people that should care about Pakistan's problems - and inflation is just the tip of the iceberg there - are Pakistanis themselves.

It's very befuddling. Many other nations have stood up and revolted for far less. But Pakistan seems to amble along no matter what happens.

 

[UP]

This is the result of 77 years of establishment hold across the country. The establishment’s unlimited power has destroyed the core of the country.

Pakistan urgently needs a strong govt voted in with a strong public mandate so difficult decisions and reforms can take place. It will be a long and painful journey.

I believe the status co or the current system will fall one day because it is simply not sustainable.

 

[FearlessRoar]

The first and only people that should care about Pakistan's problems - and inflation is just the tip of the iceberg there - are Pakistanis themselves.

It's very befuddling. Many other nations have stood up and revolted for far less. But Pakistan seems to amble along no matter what happens.

Despite a population of 235.8 million, no one has dared to publicly protest in front of parliament about the high inflation rates, because as a nation, we lack clear goals and the intelligence to recognize our rights. Instead, we prioritize our leaders' interests and ego protection.

 

[FearlessRoar]

This is the result of 77 years of establishment hold across the country. The establishment’s unlimited power has destroyed the core of the country.

Pakistan urgently needs a strong govt voted in with a strong public mandate so difficult decisions and reforms can take place. It will be a long and painful journey.

I believe the status co or the current system will fall one day because it is simply not sustainable.

For this we need to give establishment a safe exit

 

[aboveandbeyond]

For this we need to give establishment a safe exit

The establishment have had their fingers in the pie for to long to exit.
As long as poodles who are willing to be their Yes men, nothing will change.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

who tolerated the establishment when they broke the country, when they picked and chose civilian leaders, and who chose the civilian leaders who appealed to only the most base and divisive tribalism?

the people of Pakistan are squarely to blame for the mess that country has become, Pakistan has got the leaders the people deserved.

It's always unfair to blame the people for the issues they face. It's very difficult to form informed opinions and even harder for the common man to discern what is in their best interests for the long.

Look at the UK for example. You have Rishi Sunak on the one hand and a Zionist Labour party on the other hand . A highly educated populace like the UK only has these choices. Third World countries have struggles that go beyond what most in the First World can imagine . A family struggling to make ends meet will vote for promises of food subsidies than look at long term national interests etc.

 

[Red-Indian]

The streets of Pakistan are filled with the sounds of despair. Families are struggling to make ends meet, their incomes stretched to the limit by soaring prices. The once-thriving markets now stand empty, a testament to the devastating impact of the economic crisis.

The latest Asian Development Outlook report may boast of a promising 5% economic growth for the region, but for Pakistan, the reality is starkly different. Our inflation rate remains elevated, our debt suffocating, and our revenue allocated mostly towards debt repayment.

But behind these numbers are real people, real stories, and real struggles. The father who works multiple jobs to feed his family, the mother who sacrifices her own meals to ensure her children have food, the young adult who graduates from university with a degree but no job prospects, and the elderly who must choose between medicine and food.

The people of Pakistan deserve better. We deserve a government that cares about our struggles, our hardships, and our future. We deserve a government that prioritizes our needs, not just the interests of the elite. We deserve a government that takes concrete steps to address our economic challenges and ensures a brighter future for all Pakistanis.

Not saying I don't sympathise but it is a little strange time for the thread when the May print @12% was the lowest inflation number in 30 months. Of course a lot of it is base effect from a scary run of inflation last year but Pakistan's tight money policy seems to finally reining the demon in. This time last year, there was actually talk of hyperinflation. I understand this is tough to see on the street yet but that'll come too.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The first and only people that should care about Pakistan's problems - and inflation is just the tip of the iceberg there - are Pakistanis themselves.

It's very befuddling. Many other nations have stood up and revolted for far less. But Pakistan seems to amble along no matter what happens.

I dont think the people care. They just meander along.

Someone living under the poverty line isn't going to care whether inflation is 12% or 1200%. They will rely on alms regardless.

The upper classes don't care. They still have enough to live decent lives.

Honestly there is such a wide disconnect between the numbers, outputs and metrics used to measure Pakistan and the day to the day lives of people. I'm not saying that life is good by any means BUT the situation is not as bad as people crying in despair and the markets being empty.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

It just highlights how difficult it is for Pakistani public to fight back. if a bit of directness on an internet forum cant happen, what can a poor guy on the street do.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Despite a population of 235.8 million, no one has dared to publicly protest in front of parliament about the high inflation rates, because as a nation, we lack clear goals and the intelligence to recognize our rights. Instead, we prioritize our leaders' interests and ego protection.

I think we have seen what happens to protests in Pakistan. If you are in Pakistan, be safe brother!

 

[ElRaja]

It's always unfair to blame the people for the issues they face. It's very difficult to form informed opinions and even harder for the common man to discern what is in their best interests for the long.

Look at the UK for example. You have Rishi Sunak on the one hand and a Zionist Labour party on the other hand . A highly educated populace like the UK only has these choices. Third World countries have struggles that go beyond what most in the First World can imagine . A family struggling to make ends meet will vote for promises of food subsidies than look at long term national interests etc.

you cannot use the UK as an example because the people in the UK have a decent life, you can understand their political apathy. i lived in Pakistan, and there is no excuse for their voting patterns, people may not understand the complexities of economic systems, or political theories, but they know they are being robbed hand over fist, and they've known this for decades, yet they vote and support the same system of patronage, and not just out of desperation, but out of tribal loyalties.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Pakistan inflation slows to three-year low

Pakistan’s headline inflation clocked in at 11.1% on a year-on-year basis in July 2024, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

This is the lowest CPI figure since November 2021 when it stood at 11.5%, the report said.

On a month-on-month basis, CPI inflation increased by 2.1% in July 2024 as compared to rise of 0.5% last month.

The PBS said CPI inflation urban clocked in at 13.2% on year-on-year basis in July 2024, as compared to an increase of 14.9% in the previous month and 26.3% in July 2023.

On month-on-month basis, it increased to 2.0% in July 2024 as compared to an increase of 0.6% in the previous month and an increase of 3.6% in July 2023.

CPI inflation rural increased to 8.1% on year-on-year basis in July 2024 as compared to an increase of 9.3% in the previous month and 31.3% in July 2023.

On month-on-month basis, it increased to 2.2% in July 2024 as compared to an increase of 0.3% in the previous month and an increase of 3.3% in July 2023.

The Asian Development Bank in its reported, released last month, predicted a 7% decrease in Pakistan’s debt volume.

According to the report, the debt volume is expected to decrease from 77% to 70% of the country’s GDP.

The report also states that 62% of Pakistan’s revenue will be spent on debt repayment in the current fiscal year. Additionally, the report predicts that inflation will remain high in Pakistan in the current fiscal year.

Pakistan inflation slows to three-year low

Pakistan’s headline inflation clocked in at 11.1% on a year-on-year basis in July 2024, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). This is the lowest CPI figure

arynews.tv

 

[Kianig89]

Everything can be sorted but the mafia and cartels are letting it done, every industry/ union blackmailing govt. on tax policies though the govt is also responsible for not having a transparent and uniform mechanism for taxation

 

[guard]

The first and only people that should care about Pakistan's problems - and inflation is just the tip of the iceberg there - are Pakistanis themselves.

It's very befuddling. Many other nations have stood up and revolted for far less. But Pakistan seems to amble along no matter what happens.

You have no idea what Pakistanis endure and continue to endure. The minute you revolt, a 9mm will be embedded in you multiple times and your belongings will soon be another’s property, and thats before you hit the ground. All the while things will continue as they are, no change, IMF visits, LDN calling visits, is it really worth dying for zilch?

 

[FearlessRoar]

Pakistan’s short-term inflation falls by 0.12pc

The weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), witnessed a decrease of 0.12 percent for the combined consumption groups during the week ended on August 1, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Friday.

According to the PBS data, the SPI for the week under review in the above-mentioned group was recorded at 321.56 points as compared to 321.95 points during the past week.

As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined consumption group in the week under review witnessed an increase of 18.41 per cent.

During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 24 (47.06%) items increased, 7 (13.72%) items decreased and 20 (39.22%) items remained stable.

The items, which recorded major decrease in their average prices on a week-on-week basis included electricity charges for Q1 (15.80%), bananas (4.87%), diesel (3.81%), petrol (2.23%), wheat flour (0.98%) and sugar (0.21%) and cigarettes (0.21%).

The commodities which recorded major increase in their average prices on week-on-week basis included chicken (5.91%), eggs (1.58%), cooked daal (1.05%), pulse gram (0.78%), cooked beef (0.53%), rice basmati broken (0.44%), garlic (0.43%), onions (0.40%), shirting (0.09%) and LPG (0.06%).

On-year basis, the commodities that witnessed decrease included wheat flour (32.28%), electricity charges for q1 (15.46%), cooking oil 5 litre (13.44%), vegetable ghee 2.5 kg (9.99%), vegetable ghee 1 kg (9.21%), eggs (7.90%), chili powder (7.04%), mustard oil (6.80%), rice basmati broken (5.68%), petrol(1.20%) and diesel (0.16%).

The commodities which recorded an increase in their average prices on year-on-year basis included gas charges for Q1 (570.00%), onions (86.53%), pulse gram (41.78%), powered milk (32.32%), pulse moong (30.21%), garlic (27.88%), shirting (25.09%), gents sandal (25.01%), salt powder (23.28%), beef (23.13%), pulse mash (21.22%) and energy saver (17.96%).

Pakistan's short-term inflation falls by 0.12pc

The weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), witnessed a decrease of 0.12 percent for the combined consumption groups during the

arynews.tv

 

[Varun]

You have no idea what Pakistanis endure and continue to endure. The minute you revolt, a 9mm will be embedded in you multiple times and your belongings will soon be another’s property, and thats before you hit the ground. All the while things will continue as they are, no change, IMF visits, LDN calling visits, is it really worth dying for zilch?

 

[guard]

Yes, theres that, but Pakistanis know they will be annihilated and for nothing. Nowt will change, ever, in Pakistan, and Pakistanis know it, the ship has almost sunk, Pakistanis have lost empathy with their own motherland. Why? Because there is a long line if thieves in the queue, each worse than the person before him/her. Pakistanis would love to emulate India growth and prosperity but they know it will never happen there, never in 100 millennia’s. Kudos to Bangladesh!!

 

[FearlessRoar]

74 percent of Pakistanis unable to meet expenses; 10% doing two jobs

Financial difficulties among urban Pakistani households have soared by 14% over the past year, resultantly, a staggering 74% of urban population in Pakistan, the south Asian country, are unable to meet their monthly expenses with their current income.

This represents a significant increase from May 2023, when 60% of households reported financial struggles, according to the latest study by Pulse Consultant.

Of those currently struggling to make ends meet, 60% have had to cut back on essential expenses, including groceries, while 40% have resorted to borrowing money from their acquaintances. Furthermore, 10% have taken on part-time jobs to supplement their income.

The survey of Pakistan, the country with roughly 240 million population, also highlighted that more than half, 56%, of those who are just managing to cover their expenses are unable to save any money after meeting their basic needs.

The findings are based on a telephonic poll conducted by Pulse Consultant from July to August, involving over 1,110 respondents from the 11 largest cities in Pakistan, revealed Kashif Hafeez Siddiqui, CEO of Pulse Consultant, on ARY News’ program Sawal Yeh Hai. The age group of participants ranged from 18 to 55 years.

As the economic challenges is ongoing, Pulse Consultant plans to launch a second round of detailed urban-based studies later this month. This upcoming survey will gauge the impact of inflation on purchasing and consumption habits, highlighted the CEO, with a larger sample of over 1,800 respondents across 17 major cities in Pakistan.

74 percent of Pakistanis unable to meet expenses; 10% doing two jobs

ISLAMABAD: Financial difficulties among urban Pakistani households have soared by 14% over the past year, resultantly, a staggering 74% of urban

arynews.tv

 

[FearlessRoar]

Due to the economic crisis, high inflation, and rising unemployment in Pakistan, many people are migrating abroad in search of better economic opportunities, safety from conflicts, and improved living standards.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Inflation rate sees slight dip after weeks of surge​

In a welcome respite for the inflation-battered citizens of Pakistan, the latest statistics from the Federal Bureau of Statistics reveal a marginal decrease of 0.1 percent in the inflation rate over the past week.

This drop comes after a prolonged period of relentless price hikes, bringing some much-needed relief to the common man.

According to the data, the prices of nine essential items, including tomatoes, wheat flour, onions, sugar, chicken, lentils, and bread, have witnessed a decline. However, the prices of 21 other items, such as eggs, pulses, potatoes, beef, milk, and LPG, continue to soar.

On an annual basis, the statistics reveal that the price of onions has surged by 89.5 percent, while chickpea lentils have gone up by 34 percent, and tomatoes by 28 percent.

Over the past year, the cost of dry milk has increased by 26 percent, beef and lentil mong by 24 percent, and garlic by over 28 percent. Additionally, gas charges have skyrocketed, with an increase of up to 570 percent.

Moreover, the prices of dry milk, big meat, lentil mong, and garlic have risen by 26 percent, 24 percent, 24 percent, and 28 percent, respectively, over the same period. The most striking increase, however, is in gas charges, which have skyrocketed by a whopping 570 percent.

Latest Inflation Rate in Pakistan, Prices Still Soar (August 2024)

Pakistan's inflation rate has seen a minor decline of 0.1% in the past week, offering some relief to consumers. However, prices for many essential items continue to rise significantly.

www.samaa.tv

 

[Champ_Pal]

Pakistan should spend less on military and more on feeding their people. The enmity with India will never pay. Kashmir cause is a total waste of money.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Ali Muhammad Khan laments 'ballooning' inflation​

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Muhammad Khan lamented on Thursday that the country was witnessing "ballooning" inflation in the country.

Expressing his thoughts, Khan said: "The country is facing hardships. Even look at the situation in Balochistan. What about the law and order now? The country was witnessing peace before."

"We are not going to escape and leave the PTI founder," he said.

– PTI welcomes Fazlur Rehman's move to 'stand against status quo': Ali Muhammad Khan –

Few days back, Ali Muhammad Khan said that his party welcomes the JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman's move to "stand against the status quo.".

Expressing his thoughts, Rehman said: "We are having the numerical majority in the assembly in reality. These people are the result of Form-47.

"There was a recommendation of the committee meeting in line with the Mubarak Sani case," he said.

He said, "The PTI founder has postponed the public gathering with a heavy heart as he does not want to give anybody any opportunity."

Speaking about the meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Rehman, Khan said: "Meetings with one another are a part of the political process."

Earlier today, President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday visited the residence of Rehman, accompanied by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

The meeting, which took place in a warm and cordial atmosphere, focused on discussing the current political situation in the country.

During the visit, the exchange underscored the mutual respect between the two leaders, who have long been key figures in Pakistan’s political landscape.

Pakistan News: PTI leader laments 'ballooning' inflation

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Muhammad Khan lamented on Thursday that the country was witnessing "ballooning" inflation in the country.

www.samaa.tv

 

[Bewal Express]

Establishment care only about money and have appointed the biggest criminals to systematically destroy the economy and every institution. They have a CJP that is the worst in PKs history and has smashed the constitution to protect his pay masters.

 

[Kianig89]

The rec. Wing in HQ has increased the salary of (R) off. working in subsidiary org. by a whooping 50% . Civ. working in Same inst. got the routine 15&20% hike whereas special Inc. For these persons citing an order from higher auth.

No wonder the country is in mess, and even an average hardworking indvl doing some 8hr job has no proper avenue to invest or achieve wealth maximisation

 

[FearlessRoar]

PM Shehbaz 'satisfied' with drop in inflation, economic stability

Expressing satisfaction over the "nosediving of inflation rate" in the country, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the economy is moving towards stability owing to the hard work of the government’s financial team.

Citing the details shared by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the prime minister said on Sunday that the ‘Consumer Price Index’ fell to record low in July 2024, bringing inflation to 11% and welcomed the forecast of further decline in the inflation rate in the current month of September.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance — in its monthly outlook report — stated that on account of stability in economic indicators, inflation is expected to remain within the range of 9.5-10.5% in August and further decline to 9-10% in September.

“After Fitch, the global rating agency, Moody’s recently upgraded Pakistan’s credit rating, which is an acknowledgement of the country’s positive economic indicators by the international financial institutions,” the PM Office Media Wing, in an official statement, quoted the premier as saying.

The government is pursuing a policy of economic reforms and the implementation work is rapidly in progress over the rightsizing policy of the government which the premier himself is monitoring, according to the communique.

PM Shehbaz also expressed the confidence that its positive impact on the economy would be visible soon.

At the same time he also acknowledged that the federal and Punjab governments had provided a big relief to the electricity consumers in respect of monthly bills, adding the prices of petroleum products were further reduced from today.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government announced a reduction of Rs14 per unit in the electricity tariff for August and September under a power subsidy plan for consumers using 201 to 500 units.

The premier said that the government believed in passing on all the benefits of such policies to the common man. “The government is cognizant of the issues of the people and was striving day and night to resolve them,” he added.

Earlier in August, Moody's Ratings upgraded Pakistan's local and foreign currency issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings to Caa2 from Caa3 owing to improvement in macroeconomic conditions.

“We have also upgraded the rating for the senior unsecured MTN programme to (P)Caa2 from (P)Caa3. Concurrently, the outlook for the Government of Pakistan has changed to positive from stable,” the rating agency said in a statement.

Accordingly, Pakistan's default risk has reduced to a level consistent with a Caa2 rating, as per Moody’s. “There is now greater certainty on Pakistan's sources of external financing, following the sovereign's staff-level agreement with the IMF on 12 July 2024 for a 37-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of $7 billion.”

The release of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) latest schedule is a significant development, but the absence of Pakistan's loan approval on the agenda is a cause of concern as it is critical for the country to secure the loan to shore up its sinking economy.

On the other hand, the government remained optimistic that the country will secure approval for a $7 billion bailout package from the IMF next month, sources privy to the matters told Geo News earlier this week.

Finance Minister Aurangzeb last week also dismissed concerns about the IMF declining the staff-level agreement, exuding confidence that "the lender will approve it next month".

Pakistan and the global lender had reached an agreement on the 37-month loan programme in July.

The IMF said the programme was subject to approval from its Executive Board and obtaining "timely confirmation of necessary financing assurances from Pakistan's development and bilateral partners".

PM Shehbaz 'satisfied' with drop in inflation, economic stability

PM Shehbaz says economy moving towards stability.Acknowledges relief in electricity bills, POL prices.Govt believes in passing benefits to common man. ISLAMABAD: Expressing satisfaction over the nosediving of inflation...

www.geo.tv

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Pakistan’s consumer price index (CPI) in August rose 9.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY), marking a 34 month-low, data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed on Monday

The CPI measures household inflation and includes statistics about price change for categories of household expenditure.

“CPI general inflation increased to 9.6pc on year-on-year basis in August 2024 as compared to an increase of 11.1pc in the previous month and 27.4pc in August 2023,” PBS said.

The monthly inflation rate was 0.39pc, the PBS said.

According to Karachi-based brokerage firm, Topline Securities, the reading for August “is at 34 months low”.

“This takes 2MFY25 average inflation to 10.36pc compared to 27.84pc in 2MFY24,” it said in a comment.

The data showed that urban inflation increased by 11.7pc while rural inflation increased by 6.7pc in August.

Speaking on the development in the National Assembly, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the decrease was the “proof of success” under the prime minister’s leadership.

He said inflation had reached the single digits due to the government’s measures.

In July, inflation had risen to 11.1pc on a YoY basis as compared to an increase of 12.6pc in the month of June and 28.3pc in July 2023. In May, it had hit 11.8pc — a 30-month low.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had expressed satisfaction over a falling rate of inflation and improvements in other economic indicators.

The premier’s statement came after the Ministry of Finance said in its August outlook on Friday that inflation was expected to remain in the range of 9.5-10.5pc in August and further decline to 9-10pc in September “on account of stability in economic indicators”.

“After Fitch, the global rating agency, Moody’s recently upgraded Pakistan’s credit rating, which is an acknowledgement of the country’s positive economic indicators by the international financial institutions,” said PM Shehbaz.

Global rating agency Moody’s upgraded Pakistan’s local and foreign currency issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings to Caa2 from Caa3, saying its decision to upgrade was due to “Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic conditions and moderately better government liquidity and external positions, from very weak levels”.

Year-on-year​

Urban: Food item prices that increased on a YoY basis included: Onions (136.32pc), Fresh Vegetables (76.35pc), Pulse Gram (42.35pc), Besan (31.15pc), Fish (28.98pc), Fresh Fruits (27.32pc), Pulse Moong (25.05pc) and Milk Powder (24.17pc).

Non-food items prices that increased: Gas Charges (318.74pc), Motor Vehicle Tax (168.79pc), Dental Services (28.84pc) and Cotton Cloth (24.17pc)

Source: Dawn News

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Employees of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) have ended their sit-in following assurances from Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, that there are no plans to shut down the USC

In a meeting held with USC employees, the minister reassured them of the government's commitment to maintaining the operations of the Utility Stores. "There is no plan to close the Utility Stores Corporation. We are focusing on restructuring the organisation to improve efficiency," Rana Tanveer stated.

Employees announced the end of their protest after receiving confirmation that a subsidy of Rs50 billion under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and an additional Rs10 billion Ramazan package allocated in the budget would be provided.

Rana Tanveer also agreed to form a committee to oversee the restructuring of the USC. The committee will include representatives from all unions, ensuring that employees have a say in the restructuring process.

"We will protect the interests of all government employees. All decisions will be made with the consultation of the employees and other stakeholders," the minister assured.

These assurances have brought an end to the employees' protest, with workers expressing relief over the commitment to safeguard their jobs and benefits.

USC employees had launched a sit-in in the federal capital, protesting against the government's plans to close the organisation under its rightsizing initiative last month.

The federal government decision to close utility stores nationwide, was expected to significantly impact millions of low-income families who rely on discounted essential goods.

The decision followed the discontinuation of a Rs50 billion subsidy that previously offered relief to around 26 million households.

During a recent Senate Standing Committee meeting, the Secretary of Industry had confirmed that the government was indeed considering shutting down utility stores as part of a right-sizing initiative.

Source: The Express Tribune

 

[FearlessRoar]

Punjab to Create New Department to Combat Inflation​

Punjab’s Minister for Information, Azma Bukhari, announced that the provincial government has decided to establish a new department to control inflation.

She added that the bill will soon be presented in the provincial assembly for approval. Bukhari highlighted that inflation has dropped into single digits and Pakistan is recovering.

When questioned about constitutional amendments, Bukhari clarified that only Parliament has the authority to write or amend the Constitution, and no one has the right to “rewrite” it. Amendments will be made if necessary, as the government has had the required numbers from the beginning.

The minister criticized those trying to create unrest in Pakistan, accusing them of having destructive intentions. She remarked that these elements aim to destabilize the country, sometimes comparing it to Sri Lanka and at other times using threats of nuclear catastrophe or sending anti-state letters to the IMF.

She also dismissed circulating rumors about potential changes in leadership or governance in October or November, firmly rejecting such speculation.

Bukhari emphasized the importance of regulating social media, expressing concern that the distinction between truth and falsehood has become increasingly unclear. She highlighted that major platforms like “X” and Facebook currently operate without offices or formal agreements in Pakistan.

The minister advocated for suspending social media apps that do not agree to cooperate with the government, stressing the need for accountability and responsible use of these platforms within the country.

Punjab to Create New Department to Combat Inflation

Punjab’s Minister for Information, Azma Bukhari, announced that the provincial government has decided to establish a new department to control inflation.

propakistani.pk

 

[Sher Khan]

So Pakistan's inflation has reduced down to 6.9 percent which is a 44 month low. Let me remind posters on here, that 44 months ago Imran was still in power. The PDM didnt come in power till April 2022.

Surely Shehbaz and co deserve some credit as finally the poor people are getting some relief and economy slowly seems to be getting back on it's feet.

 

[mazkhan]

Pmln are the best party for them Pakistan comes first they made the nuclear bomb.

unlike the others who play regional and ethnofascist policies and have private armed militias and terrorists amongst them.

 

[Extra_Cover]

So Pakistan's inflation has reduced down to 6.9 percent which is a 44 month low. Let me remind posters on here, that 44 months ago Imran was still in power. The PDM didnt come in power till April 2022.

Surely Shehbaz and co deserve some credit as finally the poor people are getting some relief and economy slowly seems to be getting back on it's feet.

Mate are you for real. You are comparing a current year inflation to previous year's inflation rates. You do realise that this 6.9% you have mentioned compared to an additional increase to previous year's rate, I hope you do because this is nothing to celebrate. But if you don't understand the logic then let me try explaining this below.

The below table is simple mathematics and data used is from link below. Assuming the base price reflects and average product like a chair. Also to put things in perspective I have set the base year to 2018 so you can see impact PTI had vs impact PDM had.

Pakistan Inflation

Updated charts and forecasts on Pakistan Inflation (CPI, ann. var. %, aop). Get access to accurate economic data and projections now.

www.focus-economics.com

Year	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022 (PDM Entry)	2023	2024
Inflation rate	5.8%	9.4%	9.5%	9.5%	19.9%	30.8%	6.9%
Base Price	100.00	109.40	119.79	131.17	157.28	205.72	219.91

So based off simple statistics a price of chair when PTI got in power was Rs100 which rose to Rs131.17 during PTI era. The same chair went from Rs131.17 to Rs219.91 in PDM era. I don't see any reason to congratulate Shahbaz Shareef on the above, perhaps you see something which I don't.

Also I'm taking your numbers on the face of it however if I look through a recent Reuters article that apparently mentioned the inflation fell to 9.6% rather than 6.9% (see link below). This is a classic PDM style of manipulation that would have made Ishaq Dar quite proud, simply switch the numbers around and if someone finds out its just a typo. You come across as someone who has great respect for Mr. Dar I presume.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/pakistan-annual-inflation-slows-96-first-single-digit-stat-nearly-3-years-2024-09-02/

As I like to talk about economics and stuff so why shall we not continue here for a little longer. Its important to note that PTI rule endured an era never seen before which included the corona pandemic. So its important to see how the developed and developing economies were doing during this time. You should be pleased that I'm not using data of underdeveloped countries as surely we are fast heading if not there yet already.

Country	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Pakistan	5.8%	9.4%	9.5%	9.5%	19.9%	30.8%
India	3.9%	3.7%	6.6%	5.1%	6.7%	5.6%
Bangladesh	5.5%	5.6%	5.7%	5.5%	7.7%	9.9%
South Africa	4.5%	4.1%	3.2%	4.6%	7%	6%
Ukraine	10.9%	7.9%	2.7%	9.4%	20.2%	12.8%
Sri Lanka	2.1%	3.5%	6.2%	7%	49.72%	16.54%

So if we see the table above we should be congratulating Shahbaz Sharif for achieving 20% and 30% inflationary targets in the previous 2 years whilst most of the other economies were operating at circa less than 10%.

A country like Ukraine where an active warfront is open happens to have better economic outlook than Pakistan under the impeccable vision of Shahbaz speed. A country like Sri Lanka where an actual civil war took place and overthrown their regime seems to be better on track than Shahbaz speed.

Yet we need to congratulate the vision of Shahbaz speed.

 

[FearlessRoar]

'Inflation drop was more than we expected': FinMin Aurangzeb​

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced that the country has seen a "sharper-than-expected drop in inflation", with the economy moving towards improvement.

Speaking at the launch of the Pakistan Economic Dashboard on Wednesday, the finance czar highlighted key economic progress and stressed the need for structural reforms to ensure sustainable stability.

During his address, the minister noted that inflation has decreased more than the government had anticipated.

"The inflation rate is falling faster than we expected, which is a positive sign for our economy," he said.

However, he emphasised that continued efforts are needed to maintain this trajectory.

The minister also pointed out that tax filer numbers have increased, and the government aims to further raise the tax-to-GDP ratio.

"We need to focus on increasing our tax base to achieve long-term economic stability," he added.

Aurangzeb spoke highly of Pakistan’s banking sector, describing its current trajectory as one of significant improvement.

He praised the sector for offering greater support to investors and expressed confidence that this trend would continue.

"The banking sector is facilitating investment and creating more opportunities for growth," the minister stated.

He highlighted that improvements in the banking sector would enhance access to financial services for ordinary citizens and help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) gain much-needed financial support.

This, he believes, will play a key role in boosting the overall economy.

The finance minister made it clear that Pakistan’s ongoing programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would be the last, provided the government successfully implements structural reforms.

"The only way to achieve sustainable economic stability is through fundamental reforms," Aurangzeb stressed. He outlined the need for significant changes to ensure Pakistan's economic growth remains on track.

He further emphasised the need to improve the tax-to-GDP ratio and utilise the country's current economic position to drive further stability.

"Our economy is heading in the right direction, and we must capitalise on this momentum by implementing necessary reforms," he added.

'Inflation drop was more than we expected': FinMin Aurangzeb | The Express Tribune

Finance czar praised banking sector for offering support to investors; expressed confidence trend would continue

tribune.com.pk

 

[FearlessRoar]

Federal government begins downsizing daily wage employees under new policy​

The federal government has begun the process of releasing daily wage employees as part of its rightsizing policy.

According to a notification issued by the Establishment Division, the services of daily wage workers have been transferred to the surplus pool as of September 30, 2024, marking the start of a broader downsizing initiative.

The decision is part of the government's long-term plan to streamline operations and reduce the workforce across various ministries and divisions.

The Establishment Division has informed all daily wage employees that their services will no longer be required after September 30.

The notification further clarifies that other ministries and divisions will also be issuing similar notifications to release their daily wage staff in compliance with the rightsizing directive.

Sources within the Ministry of Finance have confirmed that additional departments will follow suit, ensuring that the rightsizing plan is uniformly implemented across the federal government.

This move comes as the government seeks to reduce costs and improve efficiency, though it is likely to impact a significant number of daily wage workers across various sectors.

Federal government begins downsizing daily wage employees under new policy | The Express Tribune

The decision is part of the government's plan to streamline operations and reduce the workforce across ministries.

tribune.com.pk