Historic government; historic period

For the first time in history, the US dollar is also touching the mark of Rs170. For the first time in history, petrol has gone up to Rs123 per litre. According to the SBP data, Pakistan's internal and external debt has reached Rs39,859 billion in June 2021. A landmark presidential ordinance has imposed an advance income tax of 5 to 35 percent on electricity bills. Additional tax will be applicable on electricity bills of non-filers belonging to professional sectors. This is in addition to the 40% increase in electricity prices from 2018 to date. The basic rate of electricity in 2018 was Rs11.72 paise per unit, which has now increased by Rs 4.72 paise to Rs16.44 paise per unit.

According to the official retail rate, one kg of sugar is available in Rs89.75. Ordinary consumers who find sugar at this price in the market are considered lucky. According to last week's statistics, the price of ghee was Rs345.70 per kg. A 20kg bag of flour costs Rs1,180, meaning one kilogram of flour costs about Rs60. Despite this year's historic and record wheat production, flour is not cheap. Despite record production, wheat has to be imported.

The PTI government has successfully completed its 3 years. On the completion of 3 years, a big celebration was also held at the federal level in which the achievements of the government were lost. The government of Punjab, the largest province in Pakistan in terms of population, also publicized its performance after completing 3 years. Now if we talk about the prices of flour, ghee, sugar, petrol and the dollar 3 years ago, the difference is sky high. The income of the common man has not increased while inflation has doubled. This historic inflation has made it difficult for the common man to light a stove. According to a recent outlook report by the Asian Development Bank, Pakistan's growth in 2022 will be 4%. The same Outlook report also states that the inflation rate will remain at 7.5 percent. Rising prices of wheat, sugar and foodstuffs will lead to higher prices.

Well, every one of our beloved Prime Ministers has a very positive attitude, he is an athlete, he has sportsmanship, he demands the same attitude from his party and the people, where he keeps urging his team to work hard. I have repeatedly advised not to panic. Interesting reactions of the people on social media to this statement of the Prime Minister also keep coming to the fore. In some light-hearted public videos on rising inflation, citizens are seen pleading, “Prime Minister! Now let us panic. " There are also some tyrants on social media who keep searching for past statements and tweets of the Prime Minister and his team's top leaders.

On the other hand, when petrol became a little more expensive, he immediately posted an old tweet and statement on social media in which the increase in the price of petrol was proved to be the theft of the thief rulers or there was a comparison between the real price of petrol and the tax. In the days of his opposition, Khan Sahib has also tried to launch a civil disobedience movement. In such a situation, he had set fire to the electricity bill in front of the people. However, now that the price of electricity has reached the level of his government, the people are waiting to see what the Prime Minister will advise them to set fire to. Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen blames "corona virus" for inflation. He believes the global epidemic has affected the world's supply line and pushed up commodity prices around the world. Talking to media this week, he said that the current price of sugar in the global market is 4 430 per tonne as against 24 240 per tonne in 2018. He also claimed that India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Vietnam were selling expensive petrol to us.

Now compare Pakistan with India, then 2 rupees 30 paise becomes one Indian rupee. India's per capita income is 22 2,200, inflation is 5.6% and the average price of petrol is Rs 105 per liter. Pakistan's per capita income is 90 1,190 and inflation is 8.4 percent. It is not appropriate to make such a comparison. However, other government spokespersons have also offered similar interpretations on the rise in petrol prices. Inflation and government figures may be correct somewhere, but the common man is also going through a difficult economic period historically.

Look at the good fortune of the sitting government that it has got an opposition in its time which has hardly any other government in history. The opposition has to be the voice while expressing the people on how friendly or hostile the policies of the government are, but the opposition has not yet decided how to be the voice against the government. The PML-N is the largest opposition party. To give the government a tough time, he is still embroiled in a dilemma over whether to honor the vote or the performance, often confused even by his big and small leaders. PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah has said that he will decide to launch a movement against inflation later, now let the people enjoy some more change.

The PPP is still going through a new process of self-identification after splitting from the PDM, so it too has not been able to become the voice of the people on the most important public issue like inflation. Maulana Fazlur Rehman is a sting of the PPP, so he is also keeping pace with the PML-N. Perhaps the repeated warnings from the government leaders have made a small place in some corner of his heart and mind Like the PPP, the PML-N should not leave them alone at any point. Jamaat-e-Islami has started its protests against inflation. So far, however, they are proving to be the sound of parrots in the gallery.

The duty of real opposition is to stand in the way of the public interest and against wrong policies of the government. Well, since we are living in a historical period, perhaps that is why the opposition seems to be playing a historic role. Whatever the economic indicators of the government, the rising inflation, unemployment and the depreciating value of the rupee are indications that the average Pakistani is getting poorer with each passing day and this historic era is dark for the common man. And this historical period is becoming the era of darkness for masses!