Jhang Chamber of Commerce President Sheikh Nawaz Akram has strongly condemned the government, stating that rising inflation and cruel economic policies have made the public a “sacrificial lamb” and that morsels of food are being snatched from people’s mouths.
Addressing an informal meeting on Saturday, Akram said that the business community, which he described as the backbone of the country, is in the grip of an uncontrolled storm of inflation. He emphasized that the prices of petroleum, electricity, gas, and essential food items are increasing day by day, leaving citizens’ pockets empty and their patience exhausted.
The Chamber President lamented that the collection of billions of rupees in taxes and heavy fines has broken the financial backbone of the poor and the white-collar class. He stated a grim reality where millions of people have fallen below the poverty line in the last four years.
Directly challenging the state’s watchdog institutions, Akram questioned the silence of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the failure of the High Courts to take suo motu notice of the crisis. He further asked what institutions like the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and the Ombudsman are waiting for while the public is “continuously being ground in the mill of inflation.”
He painted a grim picture of the societal impact, stating that “children’s dreams are dying, hearths in homes are growing cold, and the future is sinking into darkness.” Akram warned that this crisis will not be limited to the poor and will eventually engulf even those who currently feel secure, including government employees.
From the platform of the Jhang Chamber of Commerce, Sheikh Nawaz Akram, along with his team, demanded immediate action to control inflation, to eliminate what he termed “illegal taxes,” and to hold those responsible for the economic crisis accountable.
Concluding with a stern warning, Akram said that the government’s actions have created a situation where public protest is inevitable. “If the people take to the streets, this government will have to go home,” he declared, and urged the state to “wake up now, right now,” before the current silence gives birth to a “major storm.”