I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the current inflation crisis in Pakistan. Septem­ber 2023 saw a Consumer Price In­dex (CPI) inflation rate of 27.4%, the highest in decades. This stag­gering figure signifies a substantial increase in the cost of goods and services over the past year, with an average rise of 27.4%.

The dire consequences of this high inflation rate are severely im­pacting the lives of ordinary citi­zens. Many people are finding it increasingly challenging to afford basic necessities such as food. Ad­ditionally, this inflation is acting as a deterrent to investment and eco­nomic growth.

There are several factors con­tributing to the high inflation rate in Pakistan: The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has disrupted food pro­duction and led to price hikes.

Recent flooding in Pakistan, causing damage to infrastructure and crops. A decline in the val­ue of the Pakistani rupee, result­ing in increased costs for import­ed goods and services. Escalating energy prices.

To combat this inflation crisis, the Pakistani government can imple­ment various measures, including increasing subsidies for essential items like food and fuel, imple­menting a tighter monetary policy to raise interest rates and reduce the money supply, and stabilising the Pakistani rupee. While these ef­forts can have a significant impact on the inflation rate, they may take some time to yield results.

The people of Pakistan are cur­rently grappling with a high­ly challenging economic situa­tion. The rapid surge in inflation is making life difficult for many citi­zens, who are already struggling to make ends meet.

I strongly urge the government to take all necessary steps to ad­dress this pressing issue. It is cru­cial for the government to pro­vide assistance to those who are finding it difficult to meet their basic needs. I believe that it is vi­tal for the media to raise aware­ness of the inflation problem in Pakistan. By publishing letters from concerned citizens, the me­dia can exert pressure on the gov­ernment to take prompt action.

AREEBA ANWAR,

Karachi.