Pakistan’s citizens are reeling from an economic storm brewed by years of flawed government policies, as detailed in a damning report. Poverty has morphed from temporary hardship into a permanent fixture, with the population below the poverty line ballooning from 50 million in 2018 to 70 million in 2024, per official ministry figures.
The culprit? Electricity tariffs that have quadrupled from 11 rupees per unit to 50 rupees. This isn’t mere price creep; it’s a ‘structural shock’ hammering households and businesses alike. Food inflation follows suit, wages stagnate in real terms, factories idle, and street vendors pack up for good.
Daily life tells the grim story: families ditch protein-rich meals for cheaper dal, stretch milk supplies, and forgo fresh produce. Education and healthcare budgets evaporate, with kids trading books for labor to make ends meet.
Blame falls squarely on energy mismanagement. Lavish projects saddled with massive capacity charges have jacked up costs, from a legacy 1995 initiative to recent Sino-Pakistani coal ventures. Consumers foot the bill for these white elephants.
The report warns that today’s tariffs embody past policy sins, eroding the middle class and threatening social stability. Without bold reforms, Pakistan’s economic freefall shows no signs of stopping.
