Pakistanis asked to drink less tea amid economic crisis

[bluesky]

Crisis-ridden Pakistan to raise govt employees' pay by 15%

The pay hike may put a burden of $351 million on the national exchequer

www.dhakatribune.com

Pakistanis asked to drink less tea amid economic crisis​

Pakistan is world’s largest importer of tea, buying in more than $600m worth last year

Bigstock
Tribune Desk
June 15, 2022 5:04 PM

Pakistanis have been asked to drink fewer cups of tea to keep the country’s economy afloat.

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said sipping fewer cups a day would cut Pakistan’s high import bills, reports the BBC.

Pakistan’s low foreign currency reserves, which is only enough for less than two months of all imports, has left the country in urgent need of funds.

The South Asian country is the world’s largest importer of tea. The country bought in tea worth more than $600 million last year, according to the BBC.

Pakistani media quoted Iqbal as saying: “I urge the countrymen to cut down the consumption of tea by one to two cups because we have to import tea on loan.”

He also suggested traders close their stalls by 8:30pm to save electricity.

Iqbal’s plea comes as Pakistan’s foreign currency reserves continue to fall rapidly, putting pressure on the government to cut high import costs. The request to reduce tea consumption has gone viral on social media. People doubt that the country’s financial problems can be addressed by cutting out the beverage.

Foreign exchange reserves of Pakistan dropped from around $16 billion in February to less than $10 billion in the first week of June. Officials in Karachi last month restricted the import of dozens of non-essential luxury items to protect funds.

The economic crisis is a major test for Shehbaz Sharif’s government. Sharif accused Imran Khan’s government of mismanaging the economy shortly after being sworn in.

 

[bluesky]

LOL. I use tea as a weight-loss tactic.

Drinking tea or coffee before mealtime fills me up and makes me eat less.

Drinking tea could cut down on food consumption in Pakistan.

So, the Pakistan govt should find out places by doing some field experiments where tea can be farmed. However, this being a long-term measure, Pakistan cannot afford to import a huge quantity of tea leaves in the short term by spending precious foreign exchange.

It needs dollars to spend on other important goods.

China has the longest history of producing tea. I think that country can help Pakistan find out suitable places where the weather is damp, with suitable soil and ample rainfall but the water does not stand at the root of the trees.

Water either flows away due to hilly slopes or the soil below is sandy. There must be a few places where tea can be grown in Pakistan.

Pakistanis love to drink Milk Tea.

 

[WotTen]

So, the Pakistan govt should find out places by doing some field experiments where tea can be farmed. However, this being a long-term measure, Pakistan cannot afford to import a huge quantity of tea leaves in the short term byyyyyecause the country&s foreign exchange

I don't know the botany and economics of tea cultivation. Not sure why an agricultural country like Pakistan needs to import any food plant at all.

 

[PakAlp]

Less tea, boycott sugar aswell, dont drive but walk or use bicycle.

 

[Catalystic]

Less tea, boycott sugar aswell, dont drive but walk or use bicycle.

In rural areas most people r healthier and more fit then the city dwellers
The issues are mostly for city dwellers
In rural/villages they drink more LASSI than tea anyway……

 

[Olympus81]

Don’t Pakistanis have a sense of import substitution.

I believe tea can be grown in upper parts of Pakistan.

There has been an ongoing effort to grow olives during PTI’s tenure and it proved to be a successful to some degree.

There needs to be a marshall plan for these things in the budget.

 

[Crimson Blue]

This is usual & expected brilliance of PMl(N)/PPP governance that we were missing in past 3.5 years.

On one hand they have exempted Film & Music equipment & Certain Solar Panels from Turkey to enrich certain groups to encourage spending of foreign reserves on, and on the other hand , then are asking general public to consume less tea.

I recall similar measures called by Sri Lankan government last year. I was really missing such clowns .

 

[bluesky]

In rural areas most people r healthier and more fit then the city dwellers
The issues are mostly for city dwellers
In rural/villages they drink more LASSI than tea anyway……

However, contrary to rural people, city people have to remain quite busy/ fast all day to earn a living. So, slow movement by them may not work.

 

[Crimson Blue]

Don’t Pakistanis have a sense of import substitution.

Jamshed Cheema was given task of promoting tea cultivation in Pakistan till about April 2022. There were some efforts made , but oh well ...............

 

[Olympus81]

Jamshed Cheema was given task of promoting tea cultivation in Pakistan till about April 2022. There were some efforts made , but oh well ...............

Yes, he made good strides in olives and food staples. But it’s a long journey.

 

[Azadkashmir]

However, contrary to rural people, city people have to remain quite busy/ fast all day to earn a living. So, slow movement by them may not work.

nope city ppl sit in their shops staring at young girls. farmer ppl grafting in heat, herding animals, cutting crops/trees, then as reward throw wife on the katt and start farming her.

 

[KediKesenFare3]

Another low. Asking your own citizens to drink less tea to cut the imports is embarrassing...there are one million other things you could do before demanding the reduction of tea consumption.

Also, the imported tea is not just for Pakistan. Afghanistan is probably buying its tea via Pakistan which would make the actual tea bill for Pakistan's economy not as high as mentioned in the OP.

Why can't politicians think?

 

[bluesky]

Jamshed Cheema was given task of promoting tea cultivation in Pakistan till about April 2022. There were some efforts made , but oh well ...............

I have watched the video. It is a good start for tea plantations. The processing is mechanized. The Govt should seek out other suitable lands and produce more quantities of tea.

 

[khail007]

Crisis-ridden Pakistan to raise govt employees' pay by 15%

The pay hike may put a burden of $351 million on the national exchequer

www.dhakatribune.com

Pakistanis asked to drink less tea amid economic crisis​

Pakistan is world’s largest importer of tea, buying in more than $600m worth last year

Bigstock
Tribune Desk
June 15, 2022 5:04 PM

Pakistanis have been asked to drink fewer cups of tea to keep the country’s economy afloat.

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said sipping fewer cups a day would cut Pakistan’s high import bills, reports the BBC.

Pakistan’s low foreign currency reserves, which is only enough for less than two months of all imports, has left the country in urgent need of funds.

The South Asian country is the world’s largest importer of tea. The country bought in tea worth more than $600 million last year, according to the BBC.

Pakistani media quoted Iqbal as saying: “I urge the countrymen to cut down the consumption of tea by one to two cups because we have to import tea on loan.”

He also suggested traders close their stalls by 8:30pm to save electricity.

Iqbal’s plea comes as Pakistan’s foreign currency reserves continue to fall rapidly, putting pressure on the government to cut high import costs. The request to reduce tea consumption has gone viral on social media. People doubt that the country’s financial problems can be addressed by cutting out the beverage.

Foreign exchange reserves of Pakistan dropped from around $16 billion in February to less than $10 billion in the first week of June. Officials in Karachi last month restricted the import of dozens of non-essential luxury items to protect funds.

The economic crisis is a major test for Shehbaz Sharif’s government. Sharif accused Imran Khan’s government of mismanaging the economy shortly after being sworn in.

So, the Pakistan govt should find out places by doing some field experiments where tea can be farmed. However, this being a long-term measure, Pakistan cannot afford to import a huge quantity of tea leaves in the short term by spending precious foreign exchange.

It needs dollars to spend on other important goods.

China has the longest history of producing tea. I think that country can help Pakistan find out suitable places where the weather is damp, with suitable soil and ample rainfall but the water does not stand at the root of the trees.

Water either flows away due to hilly slopes or the soil below is sandy. There must be a few places where tea can be grown in Pakistan.

Pakistanis love to drink Milk Tea.

Pakistan is experimenting in this field but the production is far less than the requirement. Following is the documentary of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council for tea cultivation and the experimental gardens for the purpose:

 

[American Pakistani]

Lol patwari now saying what imran khan was saying for long.