Pakistan Food Crisis: Pakistan is facing an economic crisis at the moment and due to inflation here everyday things are also going away from the reach of the people. Almost everyone knows this. But this is not happening in Pakistan for the first time. Even before this, Pakistan has faced a big grain crisis (1935 Food Crisis in Pakistan). This is the year 1953. That is, after a few years of separation from India, it became difficult for people in Pakistan to even get food. Then only rich people with high reach were able to buy the crop.
When the government reviewed the crisis, it was found that the reason behind this is wrong trade policy. The officials did not understand the problems of the people properly. As part of its policies, the government imposed some control on the grain trade in such a way that the mandis of Punjab, once rich in food grains, were empty. There was such a shortage of wheat that people were forced to live by eating corn and millet (Thank You America Plates in Neck of Camels). Later again these things were getting difficult for the people. The situation became so bad that in some areas people had to eat tree roots and grasses.
What did the government do?
The BBC report, quoting a report published in the 1953 newspaper, said that the government had adopted several measures to deal with this problem. For example, there was a ban on calling more than 25 people in the party. The violator of this rule was asked to pay three years in jail and fine. Food items from one district to another were banned, but all these measures seemed to be fake (Pakistan in 1953). Because the rules were being broken and there was growing uneasiness among the people. Antisocial elements were activated and fake ration cards were made. Of course, the breakers of the rules were getting arrested, but the activeness of the police was very less.
Placards hung around the camel’s neck
After this, the government decided to buy more wheat. Martial law was first implemented in Lahore in 1953 and then in 1958 across the country. Things improved, but again in the 1970s, there was a crisis. According to the report, the government continued to import wheat. For the demand of food items, the Government (Pakistan Government) loaded the wheat which landed at the port of Karachi on the camels. Placards were hung around the neck of these camels, on which ‘Thank you America’ was written. That is, thanks were given to America. However, once again the growing foreign debt and economic crisis have broken the back of Pakistan. Due to which daily inflation is increasing.
Also read- Facebook, Twitter had banned, now Trump is preparing to take this big step to take revenge