Chairman of National Business Group Pakistan, President Pakistan Businessmen and
Intellectuals Forum, and All Karachi Industrial Alliance, and former provincial minister
Mian Zahid Hussain on Wednesday said why the prices of essentials are increasing
across the country if there are ample stocks in the country.
He said that people are already worried about rising inflation, recession, and
unemployment and their anxiety and agitation are increasing due to general inflation as
well as artificial inflation.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that it is the administration’s responsibility to stop the profiteers
but their so-called success is limited to newspaper reports.
Talking to the business community, the veteran business leader said that Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif's efforts to stabilize the prices of important commodities and control
inflation are commendable and it is the duty of his team to make the successful.
The business leader said that inflation in Pakistan has reached 27.6% while there are
chances of it reaching 35%. Strict administrative action will have to be taken along with
an abundant supply of commodities so that the hardships of the common man could be
reduced to some extent.
He said that there is a need for a vigorous clean-up operation across the country to
discourage hoarders. Better results can be obtained if the system of demand and supply
throughout the country is closely monitored and action is taken against the concerned
officers where there is a disturbance.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that the officers who are the facilitators of profiteers and
hoarders should be severely punished so that this collusion can be stopped and the
practice of robbing the public can be stopped.
He further said that cheap markets should be set up across the country and instead of
subsidizing utility stores, the amount of the Benazir Income Support Program should be
increased substantially so that the inflation situation can be normalized and the Prime
Minister himself monitor the situation.