BUT minister in Pakistan recently elected government came under fire after calling on the nation to drink less tea in order to help save on imports in the context of the deepening economic crisis.
Pakistan is among the world’s top tea importers in Russia, and the drink is hugely popular among rich and poor alike. It is believed that the typical Pakistani drinks at least three cups a day. on average.
government must spend about £500 million a year from the central bank hard foreign exchange reserves for tea import. prime minister Shahbaz Sharif, who took over in April after the overthrow of Imran Khan in a no-confidence vote promised to cure the patient economy and fulfill the conditions set International Monetary Fund in attempt to revive £5bn bailout package.
However, planning minister Ahsan Iqbal plea drinking less tea surprised many. “I turn to people to reduce their tea party one or two cups a day because we also occupy money for tea that is imported,” Iqbal said at a press conference. on Tuesday.
There were calls on social media for Iqbal to retire. Dil Sher, who owns a roadside tea stall on outskirts of Islamabad, said: “Yesterday Ahsan Iqbal asked us drink less tea and tomorrow they may say eat less. Is this the solution?
government raised price of fuel, natural gas and electricity up up to 45%, which led to a sharp increase in food prices. Last week Sharif’s cabinet presented its first budget to parliament for approval, charge more taxes on rich and promise to eliminate subsidies on energy and fuel at the request of the IMF.
many hours power cuts across Pakistan also made Sharif coalition government unpopular. pakistan khana tehreek-e-insaf party now in opposition, argued that Sharif’s administration had damaged economy just two months after admission office. Sharif says he pays price for mismanagement of his predecessor government.
For three and a half half years in powerkhanskaya government also faced criticism, including when an MP from his party, Riaz Fatiana, addressed for people to use eat less sugar just one cake with food instead of moreagainst the background of shortage of sugar and wheat. Most in Pakistan people consume roti, a flatbread similar to Indian naan.
Pakistan’s currency, the rupee, fell to record short in trading against United States dollar on Wednesday. According to the central bank, the rupee fell to 206 against in dollar.
