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Over the years, what I have failed to understand is the difference in prices of the same commodities sold in Pakistan and India. India and Pakistan are somewhat similar countries especially in the eyes of the multinational companies who look at us as a single geographical area with similar likes and dislikes. We are so much similar that usually multinationals don’t even prefer changing the advertisements of the products they sell in Pakistan and India. The theme, campaign and the message of each company is same while selling their products.

However, the irony is, especially in the food business, that we find the prices of goods to be different in both the countries. For example, it is hard to find anything below Rs.250 in a KFC outlet in Pakistan. While, you can get a good decent deal in less than Rs.100 in India. I do understand the sales tax issues, the import and export duties, the rules and regulations, the currency exchange and all other elements that might be involved. But how come India has managed to keep a check on the prices whereas our Government has neglected this issue from the core?

If we move ahead with this point, we also find few other issues that are hard to understand and issues that forces us to think is a sceptical way towards our government. For example, we have a shortage of flour in our country yet we find so many biscuit making multinational companies. The price per KG is going high yet the government is not forcing these multinational companies to import flour from their own countries so that our flour rates do not increase. I don’t know how much kgs or tonnes of flour would be used in making biscuits, buns, pizza dough etc. Why can’t the government stop them so as to solve the current issue of the shortage of the flour?

Then there is ‘water crises’ in our country. The country is bound to be in great trouble in the next 10-15 years because of the shortage of water. However, we find so many Water Tankers working in the years nearby. From where are they getting the water and if they can get water then why isn’t that same water going to the people? Then we see the numerous brands selling mineral water bottles in the market. They are not importing that water then where are they getting that much water from? If they are using any natural reserviour then why can’t the government use the same reserviour? If they are using the same tap water then why is the government giving that water to them rather than distributing the same water to the local people?

Our system is hopeless and our government has big loopholes to fill. The government should do something about the basic issues.

Written by: Fahad Sarfaraz

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