Highlights –
- The effect of the terrible economic crisis going on in Pakistan is now visible even on the cup of tea.
- Pakistan does not have dollars and 250 foreign containers are stuck at the country’s ports.
- Till the time Pakistan does not pay them, it is not going to get tea.
The effect of the terrible economic crisis going on in Pakistan is now badly visible even on the cup of tea. Pakistan does not have dollars and 250 foreign containers are stuck at the country’s ports. Till the time Pakistan does not pay them, it is not going to get tea. This is the reason why the price of tea has started skyrocketing. The price of black loose tea in Pakistan has reached Rs 1600 per kg, which was Rs 1100 per kg till 15 days ago.
According to Pakistani media, many containers carrying tea are still stranded at the port. These containers had arrived in December 2022 and early January. A shopkeeper told that a leading brand has increased the price of 170 gram granulated and cardamom pack from Rs 320 to Rs 350, which was earlier Rs 290. At the same time, the price of 900 and 420 grams pack has now become Rs.1480 and Rs.720. It was earlier Rs 1350 and Rs 550. According to Dawn’s report, it is going to increase further.
The price of tea will be Rs 2500 per kg
Pakistan Industry Organization official Zeeshan Maqsood said that imports are currently going through a crisis, which could lead to a huge crisis in March. State Bank of Pakistan is taking time to approve this import. He said that due to being stopped for 180 days, a crisis has arisen regarding the price of tea brought in these containers. No one knows what will be the value of dollar after 6 months. He said that banks are not opening credit lines.
Not only this, there is no instruction from the Central Bank of Pakistan regarding new agreements. Jishan said that there is a possibility that if the container is not released, the price of tea in Pakistan may reach up to Rs 2500 per kg. He suggested that Pakistan should make a trade deal with Kenya. Pakistan imports 90 percent of Kenya’s tea. Pakistan imports $500 million worth of tea from Kenya every year. Earlier, Shehbaz Sharif had requested for loan from Saudi Arabia to IMF but his demand was ignored.
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