Public Outcry as Inflation and Tax Hikes Hit Pakistani Essentials

Rampant inflation and heavy sales taxes are impacting Pakistan's lower-income population, with wheat prices becoming increasingly unaffordable. A strike by flour mill owners in Punjab is exacerbating the crisis, as consumers already struggling with high taxes on essential goods are left with fewer affordable options.

The rampant inflation and heavy sales tax imposed on commodities in Pakistan have led to severe concerns among the general public. Already suffering from escalating prices, the lower-income section now faces critical issues regarding wheat affordability, a staple in Pakistani diets.

Pakistan journalist Ejaz Ul Haq Saeedi commented on a strike by the flour mill union in Punjab Province, noting it as a profit-driven move. He indicated that mill owners had stockpiled significant amounts of wheat, ceasing operations, which primarily impacts the lower-income population. Wheat, initially set at PKR 3900 per 40 kgs, was bought for merely PKR 2300 per 40 kgs by mill owners, raising questions about their protest against sales taxes.

Saeedi remarked that sales tax would ultimately burden consumers. He questioned how individuals earning PKR 35000 to PKR 50000 monthly could manage living expenses amidst widespread taxation on essential items like milk and grains. He criticized the government's taxation policies, noting increased privileges for officials but calling for relief for ordinary citizens. Saeedi emphasized that the public, uninvolved in the anti-tax protest by mill owners, would be most affected, predicting growing unrest if heavy food taxes persist.

(With inputs from agencies.)