“Bombs of inflation on the public”

Whenever a major epidemic spreads in the world, a war begins somewhere, there are fluctuations in the global market, or sanctions are imposed on a country, its effects certainly impact other countries in the world. But the sad part is that in Pakistan, the first and biggest burden of every such crisis is directly placed on the public. The situation here is such that it seems the only solution to global problems is to drop new bombs of inflation on the public. Daily increases in the prices of petroleum products herald a new economic death for the public. Due to this increase, the life of the common citizen of Pakistan has become miserable due to the rising inflation that is already full of difficulties.
A laborer, a government employee, a small shopkeeper, or a middle-class individual is already burdened by inflation, unemployment, and rising expenses. But whenever there is any stir in global conditions, the ruling class immediately increases the prices of petrol, electricity, gas, and daily use items. This increase is never just a few rupees; sometimes it is such a shock that the common person cannot even imagine. For example, in the last two days, there has been an increase of 15 to 20 rupees.
The question is, do the big ruling families, politicians, and influential classes of the country ever provide any relief to the public from their personal coffers?
Has it ever happened that the ruling class reduces its expenses or cuts its perks to provide relief to the public? Unfortunately, such examples are rarely seen in history. The reality is that when conditions worsen, more taxes are collected from the public, prices are increased, and the economic burden is placed on the shoulders of the common citizen.
A major reason for the increase in inflation in Pakistan is also the mismanagement and corruption present in the government system and various departments.
Unnecessary expenses in government institutions are also being met from the public’s taxes. The heavy perks of bureaucracy, expenses of government vehicles and protocol, spending billions on unnecessary projects, and weaknesses in the tax system are factors that ultimately become a burden on the public.
For example, consider the energy sector. Despite the production of electricity, the public is given expensive electricity, and the burden of line losses and poor administrative systems is also passed on to the consumers. Similarly, the prices of petroleum products are significantly increased locally by using minor increases in the global market as justification. The situation is no different in the tax system, where there are more indirect taxes than direct taxes, the greatest burden of which has to be borne by the poor and middle class.
The agricultural sector, industry, and trade are also affected by government policies. When the business environment is uncertain, taxes are high, and there is no continuity in policies, the result is inflation and economic hardship. In such a situation, life becomes even more difficult for the public.
The real problem is that governance in our country is often understood as a means of acquiring power and privileges rather than public service. If the leadership truly prioritizes public welfare, it will first reduce its own expenses, bring transparency to government institutions, close avenues of corruption, and build the economy on strong foundations. But when this does not happen, despair and unrest grow in the hearts of the people.
Today, the biggest demand of the public of Pakistan is that the ruling class should understand its responsibilities and find ways to provide relief to the public instead of burdening them further. The true purpose of the state is to serve the public and protect their rights, not to subject them to continuous inflation and difficulties.
If Pakistan is to truly progress and stabilize, the rulers must change their priorities. A transparent system, justice-based economic policies, and public welfare-oriented governance are the paths that can pull this country out of its difficulties. Otherwise, these bombs of inflation will continue to fall, and the public’s difficulties will continue to increase.
The time has come for both the state and the rulers to decide which direction the country should be taken — towards public welfare or towards continuous economic pressure and injustice.