Reverse tendencies-Editorial [October.15-Oct.21]

Voice of Hunza

Globalization coupled with frequent natural distasters in either forms is giving rise to many new challenges, ranging from competitive advantage among the world's leading manufacturing and service oriented firms to the general factories producing common goods to get sustainable sales volume under uncertain trade policies of majority of developed and few of developing states struggling for their existence as recognized performers in global trade arena, gradually. In most of the developing state, Pakistan for instance, growth rate statistics provided by state bank of Pakistan carries little significance as it overlooked the various factors having a due share in the country's GDP : contribution from Gilgit-Baltistan in terms of agricultural production and revenue generated from tourims and hotle industry, though currently in shambles. Cash crops like sugar cane, cotton, rice, wheat, pulses, ground nets as well as potato have been destroyed by recent torrential rains, compelled country to rely on imported goods, on higher prices to cater its indigenous population needs.


HUNZA: Despite of expectations among former community following floods in down cities, demand for cash crops are reducing each day. While, the essential household comodities being hatched from down to local markets including vegitable items: onins, jinger, and pulses geting higher every day, a sharp contrast in coming and outgoing essentials. Photo by:Shams
What in Gilgit-Baltistan especially in Hunza-Nagar district, though, holds a vital importance in country's agricultural market via its quality cash crops, fresh and dry fruits on one hand and handicrafts on the other. Nevertheless, the expectations of former community that sales prices should be stablized according to the current market demand across the country has undergone bewilderment as merchants dealing in fresh fruits including cash crops like potatoes with the help of few of opportunist commission agents have drastically reduced selling prices in the region. There are reports that local agents coupled with their anti-social sentiments were the main instrumental to buy these crops at a very low prices and selling them down at around 45% higher rates. This has created a mixed feeling among the residents. Lack of any price regularity authority on commodities has allowed such elements to play their games-depriving the poor farmers of their due reward for their exhaustive work in extreme climatic conditions for mere a single production, annually. Moreover, influx of cash crops from the lowwer parts of Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa province to down cities' markets, and import of potato and pulses from India by contemporary regime to fill the rising demand aslo served to disturb the equilibirium for last two months.
We through this media, would like to draw attention of regional government authroties to place a check on such tendencies by taking remedial steps to ensure stable crop prices to facilitate poor former classes.






Editor