Some consolation
Along with the usual blessings and rewards for the faithful, Ramzan in our Islamic Republic has become synonymous with another old tendency – price rises, market manipulation, food inflation, etc. This is problematic at two levels, especially since it goes unchecked year after year, government after government.
One, since this practice finds automatic acceptance, it gives a certain market segment a practical state license to fiddle the market in their favour. Official promises of ‘more will be done this time’ find no traction with people anymore. And exploitation in this fashion is not only contrary to the spirit of the holy month, it also amounts to crime. And two, it does not behoove market economy mandarins to incorporate deliberate fluctuations in prices, especially in times of already high inflation, weak employment, and stagnant wages. For those who understand benefits of controversial privatisation and spillovers of large scale infrastructure projects, such macroeconomics should be rather simple. Yet facts, especially prices, speak of a different reality.
There are more things to consider this time around. At the risk of upsetting PML-N and its courtiers, the economy simply does not offer much to write home about. And food prices have already remained unfairly high for some time. Sometimes it bordered on the criminal, like flour (atta) becoming progressively expensive despite fixing the wheat support price. That people are unhappy, and desperate, is obvious. Put expensive staple food in Ramzan in the mix along with water and electricity problems, and the summer doesn’t get incrementally better for the ruling class, so these issues should get serious consideration in appropriate centres of power.
It is also very important to make adequate Ramzan preparations for IDPs. The government is already guilty of letting them down even before the refugee problem has properly begun. Even those with shelter find themselves in very difficult conditions. Every effort must be made to facilitate matters during Ramzan and beyond. But going by government posturing so far, it seems we have another typical Pakistani Ramzan to look forward to, and most people will find little consolation beyond prayer and hope.
