Happy life is not easy

Consumers smile when prices go up even before any new federal or provincial or city budget. They say it's not a matter of 'our concern' but of administrators who should take care of socio-economic life of lawful citizens and keep an eye on anti-social elements.
"We're here to co-operate with administration in any matter of people's welfare."
Ordinary citizen has problems many of which haven't been solved to his satisfaction over the years; hence, he seems disgruntled with a bitter smile, he wants a happy change in old socio-economic system for better lot of the downtrodden. He pins his hope on the new democratic set-up.
Realities on the ground provide justification for a revolutionary change. One is sick of quoting the retail market rates of kitchen and other relevant consumer items.
Clean-shaven youths think of growing beard because shaving cream prices have been raised by 50 per cent while face-washing soaps have already climbed almost the same height.
A low-paid employee and a man with limited means of genuine income can't afford buying fruit or juice because of high prices. For instance, a small pack of 'kalmi' mango drink now costs Rs20, not Rs10/15. The same is true of many brands of tooth paste.
Everybody can't afford to buy small, medium or king-size bottle of the so-called pure drinking water marketed by multinationals. So, one has to be content with tube-well water of CDA and, as a protective measure, buy a tiny pack of crystals of common potassium permanganate) at unethically hiked price of Rs30. Somebody rightly said that what cannot be cured must to be endured.
What perturbs small people is patrol and CNG price surge which in turn leads to intolerable spurt in bus, wagon and taxi-cab fares. An ordinary commuter has to pay at least Rs.30 from Shahzad Town/Rawal Town to Zero Point and again bear the same financial burden while returning home. A small family's visit to near relatives from one place to another sector by taxi, or even by coaster/wagon, costs Rs300/400 one-way. Imagine how much it
costs an individual, or a family of four or five, to maintain social relationship nowadays.
zasarwar@hotmail.com