Despite high hopes and promises made during the recent election, the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have not witnessed any improvements in their situation. Instead, residents are facing worsening conditions, with increased inflation and persistent issues that the PoK government is struggling to address.
Mauhaumad Altaf Butt, a candidate for assembly from the PoK region, expressed serious concerns about the government’s apparent ignorance regarding the challenges faced by the people. “The population anticipated an improvement in their quality of life,” he noted. However, we have experienced continuous exploitation by successive administrations, and the situation has deteriorated further recently. The cost of essential resources like gasoline and diesel is constantly rising, adding to the burden on citizens.
Just like in past elections, people were hopeful for better living conditions this time too. However, that hasn’t happened. The sharp increase in inflation has hit everyone hard, whether they’re business owners or ordinary citizens. If you take a look around the market, you’ll see businesses barely surviving and families struggling to afford basic necessities, especially right after Ramadan and Eid.
Talking about the soaring wheat prices, the leader mentioned knowing families who’ve had to cut back on meals to save money. This is all because of inflation, which is making it harder for breadwinners to make ends meet. Many families are sinking into debt because of this. Although the government introduced some relief measures before the elections, they haven’t made much difference. While these schemes might have helped businesses a bit, the general public is still finding it tough to cope.
Today, people are finding it hard to afford basic necessities such as food, water, and electricity, while the government seems unfazed. I think that the loans Pakistan has taken from various countries and international lenders are only adding to the burden on ordinary citizens.