Mian Anjum Nisar says govt policy shifted burden of fiscal reforms onto private sectors
\n Islamabad
\nThe Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry\u2019s Businessmen Panel (BMP) has raised serious concerns over the persistent rise in inflation, warning that increasing utility charges and escalating food prices are creating severe economic pressures for both households and industries across Pakistan.
\nThe FPCCI former President and BMP Chairman Mian Anjum Nisar quoting the latest data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) indicated that the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ending August 13, 2025, rose by 0.31 percent week-on-week and recorded a year-on-year increase of 2.21 percent. These figures point to a gradual but noticeable inflationary trend affecting essential commodities and household necessities.
\nMian Anjum Nisar expressed grave concern over the rising inflationary trend, describing it as unsustainable for both consumers and producers.
\nHe emphasized that the government\u2019s policy approach has shifted the burden of fiscal reforms and energy adjustments onto the public and private sectors without implementing protective measures.
\nNisar highlighted that the removal of energy subsidies and subsequent tariff increases have exacerbated living costs for households while simultaneously increasing production costs for industries, creating a dual challenge for the economy.
\nOn an annual basis, the SPI\u2019s 2.21 percent rise reflects steep increases in key non-perishable items and services. Gas charges for the first quarter rose by nearly 30 percent, sugar prices surged 22.83 percent, and footwear, particularly ladies\u2019 sandals, jumped 55.62 percent.
\nOther items witnessing significant year-on-year increases included beef, pulses, vegetable ghee, gur, firewood, cooked beef, cooked daal, and diesel. While some relief was noted in other essential food items, such as onions, tomatoes, garlic, wheat flour, potatoes, and select pulses, the moderation was not sufficient to offset the broader inflationary trend.
\nAnjum Nisar noted that the pressure of rising prices is being felt across all income groups. Weekly SPI changes affected households uniformly, with a marginal difference across consumption quintiles.
\nThe lowest-income group (Q1) faced a year-on-year price increase of 2.22 percent, while the highest quintile (Q5) experienced a smaller rise of 1.46 percent. Despite the relatively contained headline inflation compared to previous years, he warned that persistent price increases in protein-rich items, condiments, and utilities could erode household purchasing power if the trend continues.
\nHighlighting the structural challenges underlying these developments, Nisar attributed the surge in inflation to international energy price movements, domestic utility tariff adjustments, and ongoing disruptions in the food supply chain.
\nHe emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive agricultural reforms to stabilize food availability, greater investment in storage and logistics infrastructure, and improved coordination between federal and provincial authorities to manage market fluctuations. Without such measures, he cautioned, households would face mounting financial stress and industries would struggle with rising operational costs.
\nAccording to the PBS report, the week-on-week rise was mainly driven by sharp increases in perishable and protein-rich items. Tomatoes led the surge with a staggering 12.62 percent jump, followed by chicken, which rose 4.68 percent, and eggs with an increase of 2.11 percent.
\nHousehold energy costs were not spared as firewood prices edged up by 0.17 percent, reflecting the broader inflationary pressure on day-to-day living expenses.
\nConversely, Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dropped slightly by 0.36 percent, while other items such as 1kg vegetable ghee, powdered salt, and Irri-6\/9 rice registered minimal dips.
\nOverall, of the 51 items tracked in the SPI basket, 17 items increased, nine decreased, and 25 remained unchanged, signaling a mixed yet modestly inflationary pattern in consumer prices.
\nThe BMP chairman also highlighted the broader economic implications, noting that rising prices, coupled with declining industrial output and exports, could slow economic momentum.
\nHe pointed to shrinking private sector borrowing, reduced foreign direct investment, and declining manufacturing activity as indicators of growing economic fragility. Anjum Nisar stressed that unless corrective steps are taken, Pakistan risks entering a prolonged period of stagflation characterized by slow growth and sustained inflation.
\nWhile acknowledging the importance of fiscal reforms, Anjum Nisar urged policymakers to adopt a balanced approach that protects vulnerable households and supports industrial growth.
\nHe called for targeted subsidies for low-income families, special energy pricing for export-oriented industries, and measures to improve supply chains for essential commodities. The BMP warned that ignoring these steps could deepen inequalities, further erode consumer confidence, and constrain the country\u2019s economic recovery.
\nAs Pakistan faces the combined challenges of rising utility costs and persistent food price increases, the SPI data serves as a reminder of the economic pressures confronting households and industries alike.
\nThe BMP\u2019s warnings underscore the urgency of coordinated policy interventions to address inflation while fostering conditions that allow both consumers and producers to navigate the evolving economic landscape without undue hardship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mian Anjum Nisar says govt policy shifted burden of fiscal reforms onto private sectors Islamabad The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry\u2019s Businessmen Panel (BMP) has raised serious concerns over the persistent rise in inflation, warning that increasing utility charges and escalating food prices are creating severe economic pressures for both households and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":441115,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-497322","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business"},"yoast_head":"\n