Price rises due to Iran war dampen Eid festivities in Pakistan
The Straits Times
Fuel supply pressures have seen prices rise at the pump and government austerity measures. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Multan, Pakistan - Preparations for the end of Ramadan were in full swing at a beauty salon in the Pakistani Punjab, with customers getting haircuts, eyebrow-threading and henna tattoos.
In Multan’s markets, crowds of women young and old shopped for colourful bangles, shoes, new clothes, make-up and sweet treats.
But in Multan and elsewhere in Pakistan, the ripple effects of the US-Israeli war against Iran were being felt.
“It feels very different because inflation has risen so much due to the ongoing war. Every poor person is distressed. It is affecting them deeply,” said make-up artist Rozina Amjad.
Chaand Raat or the Night of the Moon – the eve of Eid al-Fitr – used to be “lively”, she told AFP, adding: “Now that charm is gone. It’s not like it used to be.”
Pakistan is reliant on oil and gas from the Gulf but since war broke out in February, fuel supply pressures have seen prices rise at the pump and government austerity measures.
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