The import of tea costs a lot of money. Every year, the government contributes almost 600 million euros to help Pakistanis get their daily dose of three cups of tea on average.
Financial help
If that decreases by one or two, that saves a lot of money. Pakistan must meet strict requirements to qualify for aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). That has converted almost 6 billion euros into the prospect, provided Pakistan puts financial order in order.
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The request of Iqbal, Minister of Planning, is met with a laugh. The British newspaper The Guardian takes a tea seller from Islamabad to who says: “Yesterday Iqbal asked if we could drink less tea, tomorrow they will probably say we should eat less. Is that the solution?”
Less sugar and bread
It is not the first time that the Pakistani population has been asked to limit its consumption. A member of parliament from the previous ruling party had already called on people to use less sugar and to eat no more than one flat bread with the hot meal.
The cabinet of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who took office less than two months ago, has already had to take more unpopular measures. Rich people have to pay more taxes and the IMF has forced the government to stop subsidizing electricity and fuel. Petrol, natural gas and electricity have become up to 45 percent more expensive. Partly because of this, food prices have also risen enormously.
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