‘Evolve policy to check inflation in Ramazan’

LAHORE

Improving governance, increasing special Ramazan bazaars and centres to control the artificial inflation and sale of substandard food items during Ramazan while one percent increase in inflation causes half percent surge in poverty.

These views were expressed by the experts in Jang Economic Session on ‘how to control inflation in Ramazan’.

The panellists were Hussain Ahmed Sherazi, Sohail Lashari, Erum Shaheen Malik, Mian Yousaf, Manzoor Malik and Aftab Gul while hosted by Sikindar Lodhi.

Hussain Ahmed Sherazi said that Pakistani population was rapidly going down to the poverty line while the government should ensure price control round the year not only in Ramazan to provide relief to the public.

He said starvation was not occurred due to shortage of edibles rather mismanagement and weak governance. He said prices increased in Ramazan due to increase in demand while timely policy should be evolved to avert this situation.

He called for maintaining the quality of edibles along with price control while improvement in governance and change in mindset was required.

Sohail Lashari said that due to capitalist approach corruption and other social issues were growing which needed to be discouraged and improvement in economic system and good governance was required. He said approach of profiteering was cause of economic imbalance while proper taxation system was required to increase the national income and improve the standard of living.

He called for effective policy making to provide relief to public in Ramazan.

Erum Shaheen Malik said that prices of edibles were increased officially well before Ramazan which was injustice with public while permanent relief and reducing the public economic problems was the need of the hour.

She said public friendly policies should be evolved to ensure quality items at control rates during special occasion likewise other countries.

She criticised the sale of substandard and rotten items in Ramazan bazaars established by the Punjab government.

She called for controlling the rates of garments, clothing and beverages as well. She said the public would also adopt modesty in Ramazan as well so that sudden surge in demand could be controlled.

Mian Yousaf said the Punjab government had given Rs5 billion Ramazan package this year again likewise past through which flour price was substantially reduced. Now this subsidy should be passed to the public in letter and spirit, he said asking for effective price control monitoring system to control the prices of other edibles and beverages.

He demanded that other provincial governments should also follow the footsteps of the Punjab government and give relief to public in Ramazan.

Manzoor Malik said that increase in inflation during Ramazan was unfortunate act and injustice with public so the government should discourage it on long-term basis by evolving comprehensive policies to increase the productivity.

He said if agriculture inputs would be ensured at control rates then visible reduction in prices was possible while increase in productivity would resolve the shortage and inflation as well.

Commitment of the government to resolve the public issues on priority basis could rebuild public trust and improve economy, he believed.

Aftab Gul said that price of roti was not increased to provide relief to public in Ramazan.

He suggested establishment of a tandoor at every Ramazan bazaar where subsidised flour would be supplied. He demanded subsidised flour supplies to tandoors as well for cheap roti to public.