New Delhi: “Kya karun main, mar jau,” has been the angry response of Pakistanis to Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s request for cutting down tea as it was pushing up the country’s import bill.
The Minister of Planning appealed to the nation to reduce consumption by one or two cups daily. “We take a loan to import tea,” he said.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development asks the nation to cut down "tea" consumption to save foreign reserves pic.twitter.com/TZe4cpJOwV
— Pakistan Observer (@pakobserver) June 14, 2022
The minister’s appeal came after data showed that Pakistanis consumed tea worth Rs 83.88 billion in the year 2021-22.
The Budget for the outgoing fiscal showed Pakistan imported Rs 13 billion worth more tea than last year, Geo TV reported.
In 2020-21, that figure was Rs 70.82 billion.
Tea lovers in Pakistan – the world’s largest importer of tea — have reacted with expected fury to the minister’s comments.
response of chai lovers: pic.twitter.com/L7hjbOwVgP
— ChutneySpears (@bl33dingheart) June 14, 2022
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ex-wife Reham Khan said: “First we halve a roti, and now we must drink less tea too? Don’t mess around when it comes to tea, sir!”
Another tea lover commented on the minister’s “imported tie, suit and shades”. “Have you thought about that?” he asked.
Aur yeh Jo imported tie, suit aur glasses Hain, en k mutaliq Kiya khayal hay???
— Zeeshan Idrees (@ZeeshanIdreesF1) June 14, 2022
Pakistan is battling severely low foreign currency reserves, “currently enough for fewer than two months of all imports”, the BBC reported.
The reserves continue to fall rapidly, pressuring the government to cut import costs and free funds for the country.
Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves dropped from around $16 bn in February to less than $10 bn in the first week of June. Last month, the new government restricted the import of dozens of non-essential luxury items to protect funds.
The Ukraine-Russia war has also plunged Pakistan into darkness, with Shehbaz Sharif’s government trying desperately to cushion the electricity blow for citizens.
Several parts of Pakistan now have planned blackouts of more than 12 hours. Inflation has also risen to 13.8 per cent.
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