In the past few years, prices of general commodities have gone up manifold that have badly affected the purchasing power of a common man.

It has become difficult to live in within the budget as the price of general items have increased to about 95 percent that make the life of a common man extremely difficult, said Mahfooz Elahi, President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry in a statement. 

About 40 percent of population did not even have access to food needed for adequate nutrition, whereas, high food prices have significantly affected the purchasing power of masses. Government should adopt appropriate food security policies to provide relief to millions of poor people in the country, President ICCI emphasized.

He was reacting to the reports that in Pakistan, more than half of the population have to spend 50-70 percent of their total income for only buying food items to survive. He said that purchasing power of common people has been decreasing by more than 20 percent mainly due to 95 percent increase in prices of food items within 4 years.

President was of the view that Government must take measures to stop further increase in food prices, otherwise, take measures to increase production using modern technology and keep the allied factor under control.

Elahi said that it’s a matter of deep concern for Pakistan that FAO in report has placed Pakistan in the list of 21 food deficit countries through Pakistan is an agrarian country.

He said that Government has failed to provide any relief even in Holy month of Ramadan as sasta bazaars and utility stores were not providing adequate relief to common man. He said that prices of milk, pulses, oil and ghee and vegetables have gone out of reach and emphasized the Government to take appropriate measures to control food inflation and ensure food security as it was common concern for all the masses.