In all the worry and flurry about terrorism and ongoing political turmoil, the country’s leadership seems to have ignored the basic necessities and living conditions of the poor part of our population. Businesses and productivity are declining and inflation rising alarmingly. Daily life commodities like sugar are not available to people at affordable prices. Even the middle class is under financial strain while electricity tariff keeps climbing and banks and companies charge more every few months for the same kinds of services. It has become crucially important now more than ever before to stop inflation from rising at the same rate. The urge of the business community on the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to bring inflation under 10 percent is one of the most important calls in the current economic decline and falling living standards of the country’s majority of population. Will the government seriously consider it? If it does, it may be able to restore the continuing loss of trust that is undermining its image in the eyes of its people. What the country needs at this moment in time is the assurance of getting basic necessities of life without any suffering.
