Islamabad
\nThe Businessmen Panel (BMP) has sounded the alarm over a renewed surge in inflation, warning that recent hikes in utility tariffs and food prices are intensifying pressure on already struggling households and industries.
\nThe caution follows the latest figures from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), which reported a 4.07 percent week-on-week increase in the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ending July 24, 2025.
\nThe increase, among the sharpest in recent weeks, was largely driven by a staggering 29.85 percent rise in gas charges and a 21.46 percent increase in electricity tariffs. Key food items such as tomatoes and eggs also saw notable hikes of 22.93 percent and 3.96 percent, respectively.
\nThe lowest-income group, categorized as Q1 by PBS, was hit hardest, facing a 3.98 percent rise in their weekly cost of living.
\nMian Anjum Nisar, Chairman of the Businessmen Panel and former President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), responded to the data with serious concern, calling the current inflationary trend dangerous and unsustainable for both consumers and producers.
\nHe criticized the government\u2019s policy approach, saying that the burden of fiscal reforms and IMF commitments was being unfairly passed on to the public and private sectors without protective measures in place.
\nHe said the removal of energy subsidies and subsequent price shocks are driving both households and manufacturers to a breaking point. According to him, the absence of a comprehensive policy to shield vulnerable segments and support industrial production has created a dual crisis of rising living costs and shrinking economic activity.
\nThe surge in inflation, he added, is not just an economic indicator\u2014it is a warning sign that the broader structure of the economy is under strain.
\nThe PBS report, which covers 51 essential items in 17 major cities, indicated that 14 items became more expensive during the week, 12 showed a decrease in prices, while 25 remained unchanged.
\nOn a year-on-year basis, SPI-based inflation stood at 2.22 percent. However, non-food items such as ladies\u2019 sandals and gas charges recorded significant annual increases of 55.62 percent and 29.85 percent, respectively. On the other hand, vegetables like onions and tomatoes witnessed substantial price drops over the year, but these were not enough to offset the recent inflationary pressure.
\nAnjum Nisar linked the latest surge to international energy price movements, domestic gas and electricity tariff adjustments, and disruptions in food supply chains.
\nHe suggested that monthly inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July 2025 is likely to reach 3.3 percent year-on-year. The CPI is expected to reflect a 15 percent month-on-month increase in electricity tariffs and a 22.7 percent rise in gas prices, as the government normalizes administered prices in line with fiscal reforms.
\nAnjum Nisar criticized this normalization process, stating that it ignores the realities on the ground. He said industries are being squeezed by high input costs, while consumers are struggling with the rapid erosion of purchasing power.
\nHe noted that food inflation, combined with utility price hikes, is making daily life unaffordable for large sections of the population. Meanwhile, the export sector continues to face setbacks due to rising costs, refund delays, and international demand slumps.
\nHe also expressed alarm over broader economic indicators. The country has witnessed a significant drop in exports, foreign direct investment, and remittances. At the same time, private sector borrowing is shrinking, and manufacturing activity has declined.
\nHe attributed these negative trends to policy instability, exchange rate volatility, and a lack of incentives for industrial revival. According to him, unless corrective steps are taken urgently, the country risks deeper stagflation.
\nHe said the recent inflation surge is not a one-time spike but part of a dangerous cycle rooted in structural imbalances.
\nHe stressed the need for agricultural reforms to stabilize the food supply chain, greater investment in storage and logistics, and improved coordination between federal and provincial authorities to manage market disruptions.
\nRegarding the upcoming monetary policy announcement by the State Bank of Pakistan on July 30, Anjum Nisar urged a cautious and balanced approach. He said that while inflation control is essential, monetary tightening must not come at the cost of choking industrial activity. He called for targeted subsidies for low-income households and special energy pricing mechanisms for export-oriented industries and SMEs.
\nThe Businessmen Panel emphasized that fiscal reform efforts should be paired with strong protection for vulnerable populations and productive sectors.
\nAnjum Nisar said the current focus on revenue generation through price hikes, without addressing cost-of-living challenges and industrial constraints, would only widen inequality and reduce economic momentum.
\nThe BMP urged the government to take immediate steps to cushion the impact of rising prices, restore confidence in the economy, and adopt a reform agenda that prioritizes both fiscal discipline and social protection. As inflation continues to rise and economic indicators weaken, the call for a more responsive and inclusive policy framework is becoming increasingly urgent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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