Worry about food

This refers to the excellent article, 'Yet another package' (April 8, 2020) by Kaiser Bengali. His each and every word is based on facts and ground realities. He has asked the pertinent question: export package for what? All countries are under lockdown, old orders have been cancelled, hundreds of labour has been laid off and this exercise is going on a daily basis. The package to the construction industry to restart their business is just a futile exercise; it should be named as a compensation to builders.

The writer has drawn attention towards the looming shortage of food items and medicines that has lost sight of the government. Shortages of essential items have started appearing on the surface with no control on prices. At present, the one-point agenda should precede everything else – how to maintain food chain and delivery to common man, doling out money and ration to a few shall prove counterproductive. One should worry about food supply in general throughout Pakistan, especially rural areas on a daily basis when the industries are shut down. Ignoring the importance of food may end up in a major crisis that should be avoided at all costs to avoid a famine-like situation.

Lt-Col (r) Mukhtar Ahmed Butt

Karachi