THE country is currently in the grip of rising inflation and unemployment, and the situation has worsened due to the coronavirus pandemic. But this is not our first experience of facing such a situation. Uncontrolled inflation accompanied by shortages of wheat and sugar is nothing new for the people.

In the 1950s, the government introduced the ration quota system to control the distribution of basic commodities. The Utility Stores Corporation was also formed to provide necessities to people at reasonable rates. However, both the schemes failed to resolve the problem on a sustained basis. Often, the reasons for failing were political interference and nepotism.

In the recent past, we have seen severe shortages of wheat and sugar. During the tenure of the previous government, sugar prices had surged beyond Rs100 per kg and did not return to normal before the black marketers and hoarders had made enormous profits. The ‘Sasti Roti’ project also became a victim of corruption and mismanagement.

The truth of the matter is that mafias and cartels controlling the supply of commodities are so strong in Pakistan that no government has really been able to do anything about it. The current government, it seems, has also fallen victim to such mafias. Regardless of the political divide, all parties cry foul when they are in the opposition, and fail to do anything when they are in power.

I hope and pray that all parties may one day decide to sit together and single out the black sheep from among them and get rid of the mafias forever. Otherwise, we will keep witnessing shortages that are deliberately created so that the hoarders can make their billions.

Raja Shafaatullah
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2020