Plight of the Middle Class
By Dr. A. Khan
Chicago , IL
The middle class is the most vital segment of a society. It is the engine that promotes economic and cultural growth. In Pakistan, the middle class is shrinking at an alarming rate due to unjust and unwise “just-at-the-last-moment” policies. The Government’s recent decision to increase the fuel prices has triggered a tsunami of inflation in Pakistan.
The poor and the middle class shop at Sunday Bazaars in Pakistan. The Bazaars were started to provide relief to the masses against inflation. But due to stimulated inflation caused by the greed of merchants, mill owners, middle men and inept leadership, the customers are forced to do just “window shopping” of foodstuff. A sampling of typical prices of foodstuff at Sunday Bazaars illustrates the dilemma the poor and middle class are facing in Pakistan: Sugar (Rs. 115 per Kg), onions (Rs. 70 per kg), tomatoes (Rs. 60 per kg), garlic (Rs. 250 per kg), ginger (Rs. 220 per kg), potatoes (Rs. 60 per kg), carrots (Rs. 70 per kg), apples (Rs. 100 per Kg), pomegranate (Rs. 120 per kg), guava (Rs. 50 per kg), eggs (Rs. 70 per dozen), da’hee/yogurt (Rs. 80 per kilogram), bananas (Rs. 50 per dozen), chicken (Rs. 160 per kilogram), rice-tota (Rs. 70 per kg), and roti-bread (Rs. 6 per piece).
Usually at the entrance of most Sunday Bazaars, there are large signs that display the control rates for foodstuff, but none of the vendors sell their commodities at control prices. Sunday Bazaars also lack cleanliness and there is no effort by authorities to ensure prices regulation. Moreover, the vendors at Sunday Bazaar are rude and try to cheat their customers by charging higher prices and under-weighing the purchased items.
Rising prices of food and fuel have created havoc for the poor and the middle class. With the majority of the bread earners bringing in Rs. 5000-15,000 per month, the out-of-control inflation is pushing them to extreme hardship. They are spending all of their household income to pay for foodstuff and utilities. The economic disparity between classes is increasing: the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer. The corruption is rampant, and the apathy of leaders in resolving people’s concerns is reaching its nadir.
Unless policy makers pay attention to stabilizing and expanding the middle class by taking measures to curb inflation and to promote growth in energy and manufacturing sectors, Pakistan’s economic growth rate will continue to remain the lowest in the South Asian countries.
