PRIME Minister Imran Khan on Monday admitted that “many cabinet members were worried” about inflation and government repute but he told them “each and every mafia” behind the inflation would be taken to task. Addressing a ceremony to distribute cheques of loans among the youngsters under Kamyab Jawan Programme, he, however, described the price-hike as artificial vowing not to spare those who minted money at the cost of woes of the people.
The Prime Minister might be right as far as artificial shortage and unconvincing hike in the price of wheat flour and sugar is concerned. There are reports that some influential people earned billions by manipulating the situation to their advantage. Imran Khan also hinted that he knew who was behind the artificial shortage and price-hike but preferred not to expose the elements involved for reasons best known to him despite the fact that the crisis had badly dented reputation and popularity of the elected government. Apart from investigation and action in the case of wheat shortage, the Government should also look deep into the market manipulation by sugar mafia, which, instead of bringing down artificial inflated prices is focusing on PR exercise to justify the hike presenting distorted figures of price comparison (of the commodity) in other countries. It is also a fact that inflation has direct relations to the policies of the Government and the problem would remain there until these policies are reviewed. The Prime Minister has his own views but a latest Gallup survey says the country’s 60% businessmen feel that things are heading in the wrong direction. They are of the view that economy was deteriorating whereas the Government believes economic indicators are improving. The main concerns of businessmen are rising cost of doing business including inflation, taxes and uncertainty. While the Prime Minister has indicated that the troublesome high interest rate might come down (he did not specify how much), one expects that tangible measures would be taken to address other factors as well.
