WHILE the government has been trying to collect more taxes, restaurants have been exploiting the situation to increase their profits. In many upscale dining places, taxes now range 15-20 per cent, significantly inflating the final bill. What appears to be a reasonable menu price often transforms into something far more expensive once these additional charges are applied. This raises an important question: are these taxes purely regulatory, or have they become a convenient tool for restaurants to quietly increase their profits?

Despite widespread inflation, restaurants remain consistently overcrowded. This I find rather puzzling because it contradicts economic reality. During the Eid days, for instance, I witnessed an overwhelming rush at a restaurant along the highway. The designated waiting area was packed to the point where it felt almost like a stampede. Families, including mine, arrived hours early just to secure a table and avoid having to wait for hours like many others.

This situation prompts a deeper ref-lection: if inflation is as severe as it is often portrayed, why are expensive restaurants thriving more than ever? Are people choosing to ignore financial strain for the sake of experience, or has dining out become such a social norm that cost is no longer a deterrent? It is perhaps time for the relevant authorities to examine this paradox more closely. The relationship between rising inflation and increasing consumer spending in high-end restaurants presents a contradiction that cannot be ignored. Ultimately, dining out has become a reflection of shifting priorities, spending habits, and a growing disconnect between economic concerns and lifestyle choices.

Hudesa Imam
Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2026