The opposition has tabled a no-confidence motion against the prime minister, threatening political turmoil.
Imran Khan, Pakistan’s prime minister, campaigned on a pledge to make the country’s economy work for the people by eradicating corruption and creating jobs. Four years later, Pakistan’s inflation rate remains the highest in South Asia. Residents are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of basic items continues to soar to record levels. Meanwhile, popular support for Khan is dwindling. In recent weeks, the political opposition has staged rallies in an attempt to depose the cricketer-turned-politician.
Future of PTI?
The prime minister’s situation has become significantly worse this week. The opposition in Pakistan’s parliament has scheduled a no-confidence vote, which has been postponed until Monday. They have the backing of a dozen defectors from Khan’s own Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who are fed up with his mishandling of the economy. The prime minister has said that he would not retire. He added that his party has organized a demonstration in Islamabad on March 27. It is going to be the day the election was scheduled to take place. If Khan is deposed, he will join a lengthy list of those who have been deposed. A five-year tenure has never been completed by a Pakistani prime minister.
How have Industries been Affected by this Rising Inflation?
Poultry Industry
When it comes to chicken and broiler chicken meat, the typical Pakistani cannot afford it. The daily salary of workers and the working class in Lahore is approximately Rs.1000. Whereas, it is Rs.600 to Rs.700 in small towns and villages. However, the daily wage of women laborers is around half of that, i.e. Rs.300 to Rs.400.
As a consequence of collective effort during the wheat harvest season in rural Punjab and Sindh, practically every household is able to gather and store wheat throughout the year. Almost every family has its own wheat mill.
They have a house, so with a little daily wage and the availability of certain basic services and the practice of rearing cattle, they may achieve virtually the same economic level as they could in the city, which is about a thousand rupees.
However, cities’ economic situations are often worse than those of the rural working class, owing to significant inflation and a huge number of impoverished individuals who do not own homes.
Obtaining a balanced diet becomes a difficulty for both the city and the villages under such conditions. Due to rising food costs, a crucial dietary component known as protein seems to be missing from people’s daily diets. This results in physical weakness in individuals of all ages.
How people linked to this Industry are affected?
You go to Google and search Punjab Egg rate and you will see how much the poultry prices have changed in the past 6 months and see the price fluctuations affecting the industry.
Hatchery owners who raise breeder chickens or buy their eggs to raise chickens in their hatcheries say that rising gas, electricity bills, petroleum product prices, transportation fares, and the buildings for workers who have rented hatcheries are all contributing to the cost of raising chickens in their hatcheries. The cost has been doubled by a rise in numerous costs, such as recruiting more personnel and raising employee compensation.
Poultry producers claim that even hens sold for up to 400 or 500 rupees in a few months are free of such losses when given to them as loans at Rs. 150 to 200 per kilogram.
Producers Claim
Furthermore, producers claim that the cost of chicken feed has risen in the last four years. The cost of poultry medication has increased tenfold. Whereas the cost of power and gas has increased roughly sevenfold. The farmers’ situation explains why they are expected to offer inexpensive chickens under these circumstances when the cost has climbed twenty-five times rather than doubled. In addition, the Corona pandemic has had a significant impact on the poultry industry. Since weddings and other gatherings, which were a major source of chicken consumption, have been canceled. Farmers feel that the chicken farmer seems to be earning a lot of money, but we can’t do much if we compare our losses and business expenses to the price of chicken.
Pakistan’s Inflation
Pakistan has been dealing with high inflation for months. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the country’s consumer price index climbed to 13% in January, the highest level in two years. Last week, the sensitive price index, which covers the costs of basic food products, was 15.1 percent. As a consequence of rising inflation, so-called middle-class poverty is increasing. This is putting pressure on the ordinary wage-worker and lowering living standards. Many individuals are being pushed to the edge by rising costs.
Inflationary pressures have provided the opposition a window of opportunity to demand Khan’s departure. Furthermore, the prime minister’s political position has been damaged by recent tensions with Pakistan’s strong military over the nomination of a new intelligence head. The opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) planned a march from Karachi to Islamabad last month to demand his resignation, and the Pakistan Democratic Movement, an anti-PTI coalition, is preparing a counter-rally.
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