Inflation is generally a progressive increase in prices. Low remittances, meagre exports, scant taxes and bad governance lead to inflation. However, in Pakistan, COVID-19, floods, regime change, political vendettas and inter-institutional conflicts have changed inflation into stagflation. Inflation has not only disturbed our routine economic, political and social life, but it has also put our civilization and soft image at risk.
Inflation-ridden countries have no option but to seek loans by putting their sovereignty and national interests in danger. The dwellers of an inflation-battered country lack political maturity, financial prosperity, creative thinking and tolerance. Financially-bankrupt masses tend to adopt crimes and prefer suicides. All contemporary problems and crises faced by Pakistan are the result of ongoing political turmoil. Unfortunately, Pakistanis consider all these crises as their fate and evil nemesis. But contrary to the poor masses, their politicians, generals, judges, bureaucrats and government officers are rich to an unimaginable extent and possess pompous palaces abroad as well.
In prima facie, corrupt political leaders, totalitarian generals, bigot clerics, arrogant public officers and tax-evading businessmen are responsible for all the current crises and inflation in Pakistan. Pakistanis have blind faith in their favorite leaders, and cannot even think of criticizing or holding them accountable for their wrongdoings. To them, their favorite leaders are free from all sins and defects like angels. Pakistanis care about their favorite leaders more than themselves and care their leaders’ offsprings more than their own offspring. However, the fact is that, due to inflation, domestic violence, social uncertainty, street crimes, child labor and mental illness have reached new heights. Electricity and gas bills have exceeded our income. Dozens of people have lost their lives to get substandard cheap flour; and out of a hundred rupee, forty-seven rupees have lost efficacy.
Before the advent of Ramadan, private school and stationery mafia robbed the poor with both hands. In the sacred month of Ramadan, the bakery and butcher mafia left no stone unturned in looting the poor; and now, as Eid-ul-Fitar is just at stone’s throw distance, tailors, garment dealers and footwear sellers have also become active mafias to deprive the poor of all kinds of savings. The government and local administration have completely failed to control inflation.
Inflation is a major obstacle in the way of entertainment, enjoying nature, tourism, literature, music, creative thinking and rationality. An inflation-ridden society lacks morality, values, pleasant marital relationships, sincere friendships, satisfactory neighborhood, sumptuous feasts, respect for women, kindness to children, sympathy for disabled persons, space for senior citizens and love for animals. Financially-bankrupt society is indifferent to national integrity, overpopulation, global warming, religious harmony and state’s laws. Inflation has left us of nowhere.
To avoid the negative effects of inflation, the masses have to reduce their unnecessary expenditures; they have to boycott corrupt politicians; and they have to hold their political leaders to account. Purchasing power of the poor has ended, and tolerance is also about to end. The government should stop its political vendettas and focus on public issues forthwith. The poor need decent relief. Before there is widespread lawlessness and anarchy, the government must come to its senses. The country cannot afford more political turmoil, inter-institutional conflicts and interference in one another’s domain.
About the Author: Prof. Fazal Tanha Gharshin is an educationist who teaches at govt boys degree college Pishin, Baluchistan
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