The escalating costs of essential items, especially ghee and cooking oil, are intensifying the financial burden on both consumers and small-scale traders. In November, the price of cooking oil rose from Rs 530 to Rs 560, marking a Rs 30 increase, while ghee prices surged to Rs 550.
This surge in inflation is causing significant concern among owners of hotels, restaurants, and food trucks, who claim that the higher prices of ghee and cooking oil are making it untenable to sustain their businesses.
The inflationary pressures have severely impacted their sales, as the hike in food prices has deeply affected consumers’ budgets, forcing many to reduce their spending.
Small traders have reported that their operational costs have doubled, leading to reduced profit margins.
Distressed consumers have criticized the government for failing to offer any relief measures to alleviate their hardships. On October 18, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) announced that the weekly inflation rate, measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), rose by 0.28 percent for common consumption groups during the week ending October 17.
