Imran keeps silent on shooting prices in KPK, as PTI picks Lahore for protest against inflation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chose Lahore for its protest meeting against inflation on December 22, but its chairman does not utter a single word when it comes to price hike in Peshawar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a press conference on Saturday, Imran Khan held Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) responsible for increasing inflation in the country, but he did not take responsibility for surging prices in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to independent observers and analysts, the question is simple whether PTI government has reduced prices in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The price situation in KPK is not all that rosy as prices of 23 essential items including flour, sugar, pulses, meat, milk, rice, bread (roti), cooking oil and tea have shot up in the last six months.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, price of 20 kg flour bag has risen by Rs. 180, tea per kg by Rs. 170 while prices of pulses Rs. 25 per kg, milk Rs.20 per liter and roti by Rs. 4.

These items are in daily use of people and increase in their prices miserably affects their lives.

One can hope that PTI invites other parties to hold a similar protest in Peshawar against rising prices.

It is logical that if prices have increased in Punjab then these have also risen in other provinces.

Pakistan Muslim League (N) again came to power in Punjab for another five years while riding on the wave of popularity garnered from the support it has among voters because of its welfare projects.

The PML-N government in Punjab has a long list of achievements to its credit. Schemes like Ashiana Housing Scheme, Danish schools, Metro Bus System for Lahore, and distribution of laptop computers among students benefitted millions of people in Punjab, who decided to once again vote PML-N into power.

With billions of rupees, Danish schools were established in Chishtian, Bahawalnagar, Hasilpur, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan while more are being established in Jand, Mianwali, Dera Ghazi Khan and Fazilpur in Rajanpur to provide best education to thousands of students.

The Punjab Government initiated various administrative reforms to improve law and order in the province. But PTI has no similar project to its credit.

According to a PILDAT survey in September, Punjab Government got the best rating out of the four provincial governments. Its performance index was at 73 points, while the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government stood at 26 points.

According to the survey, Punjab scored the highest at 32 points on the issue of street cleaning while KPK lagged far behind at 5 points.

While the survey found that according to 59 percent Pakistanis, Punjab Chief Minister is the most popular while Pervez Khattak trails behind at nine percent.

Despite making tall claims, the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has failed to deliver on its promises made to the people during the election campaign.

PTI could not control incidents of bomb attacks and law and order problem is a big question mark on its performance.

PTI is threatening to launch a campaign against price hike, but there is a complete silence from PTI when it comes to price hike, law and order situation and lack of infrastructure in the KPK province.