13 June 2004	Sunday	24 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

LAHORE, June 12: Budget used to be a concern of everyone but the common man has now lost interest in it because of the unending inflation.

"Which budget," said Tufail who sells fruit on bicycle near Bhati Gate. "We have budget after every 15 days. Shopkeepers increase prices of essential items while police and corporation people demand more bribe each time the petrol prices are increased. The prices once increased never come down."

Saeed runs a grocery shop in Nawankot. According to him, stockists and wholesale dealers raise prices whenever they want to and do not wait for the budget. "We accordingly maintain our profit margin and the increase is passed on to the consumers."

A traffic police constable at Shadman Chowk said the increase in salaries was not commensurate with the raise in prices.

Zubair, a clerk at the civil secretariat, lives in a rented house. He has four schoolgoing children and an ailing mother. "The 15 per cent dearness allowance will not bring any relief for me."