Living in times of soaring expenses

Rising vegetable prices, transport costs and house rents are slowly squeezing household budgets forcing Pindiites to cut down on their food budgets and leaving them with virtually nothing to save. The anger and frustration over high prices is quite palpable on their faces.

“I am an accountant with a local NGO. I live on rent. I desperately wanted to rent a better house for my family but I was compelled to give up the plan. Rising rents of houses have dashed my dreams of having a better life and soaring prices of food and vegetables have forced me to change my lifestyle,” says Jaafar Naqvi from Johar Town.

Hasan Abbas from Satellite Town says: “The government may have tried to control prices but it is not reflecting on the ground. It seems our dream to have a good food will remain a dream, perhaps. Spiralling prices are beginning to pinch. City fathers have failed to tackle escalating prices and made life difficult for the common man. Price rise has become a headache for my family.”

“The latest spurt in food prices is led by the spiralling costs of vegetable, fruit, milk and meat. City authorities say a large part of the problem is because of supply bottlenecks. They attribute it to the widening gap between wholesale and retail prices and the growing demand for these products. But people blame their faulty policies for high prices, which are aimed at taxing the poor,” says Ali Akbar from Asghar Mall.

Hamza Ali and his wife from Chandni Chowk say: “We have cut down on many food items like fruits, chicken, fish, mutton and beef, and other expensive items and are worried about the education costs for our five sons and daughters.”

Mujtaba Hasan from Saidpur Road says: “My family cannot afford eating out anymore. Eating out is not an option for us. There is no scope for entertainment. If we go for eating out the cost of food can dent our budget.”

Murtaza Zaidi, a sales representative from Fifth Road, says: “Rising petrol price is impacting my monthly budget. I somehow save a small amount to pay for my children’s choice. Everything is expensive now. The concerned authority should do something quickly to address the problem.”

“People like me at the bottom of the pyramid are facing the brunt of rising prices. I earn about Rs5,000 a month ironing clothes. Life has become tremendously tough for me and my family. We have stopped eating pulses as they are more costly than the meat. We have to survive on whatever we are able to lay our hands upon and cook,” says Baqir Naqvi from Kali Tanki.

“We are offered two kinds of medicines when we fall sick, one selling at higher price per pill and the other comparatively economical. In most phases of life we all look for bargains but when the issue is health, the cheaper version may not work well for us. The doctors also prescribe the costly medicine. How well a medication effect depends on how much it costs; with cheaper products being less successful at giving relief,” says Jawwad Haider from Sixth Road.

“Gone are the days when Rs15,000 a month would be enough for middle class family of four to live on. I am neither rich people nor hail from middle class. I am a labourer and can’t even fulfill the basic needs of my family,” says Abdul Mehdi from Haidery Chowk.